25/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – While a discussion on the possible recommendation to open an excessive deficit procedure took place at the meeting of the College of Commissioners on Tuesday 25 June, a further exchange is planned at the next meeting of the College on 2 July. This was announced by Margaritis Schinas, the Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission, on 25 June. A recommendation for the opening of such an excessive deficit procedure could then be addressed to the Council of the European Union. This would follow the report on the debt under Article 126(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, put forward by the institution at the beginning of June (see EUROPE 12269/1), approved by the national experts meeting within the EU Council's Economic and Financial Committee (see EUROPE 12272/2). It pointed out that the debt criterion was not respected by Rome and that the opening of an excessive deficit procedure on debt criterion was warranted. (LT)