Brussels, 02/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Among the topics on the agenda for the Ecofin Council on Monday (see EUROPE of 30 June, p. 8 and yesterday, p.9) there will be a ministerial discussion on the implementation of the early warning system against Italy. Between now and Monday they will be aware of the measures which the government intends to take to avoid worsening its public deficit, which the Commission thinks will, in 2004, go above the 3% threshold permitted under the stability and growth pact. The Commission indicated on Friday that it was not yet aware of the Italian government's proposals which are due to be discussed this weekend at an Italian government meeting. According to Reuters, the measures envisaged could consist of a deficit reduction of 5.5 billion euros for 2004. This sum is less than the 7 billion euros recommended by the Commission since the end of April which figured in its decision to set off the early warning mechanism.