Giuseppe Fonte

Italy's plan to run a budget deficit above 3% of GDP both in ‌2027 and 2028 could complicate the country's plan to exit from the European Union's infringement procedure, the Bank of Italy said on Monday.

Italy's government is talking with banks and ‌energy groups over their potential contribution to state finances, Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo said on Thursday, as the government finalises its 2027 budget to be presented next week.

European Union authorities should take rising inflation into ​account when assessing government deviation from budget ‌goals, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said, arguing that higher prices can significantly affect governments' fiscal plans.

Italy wants European Union authorities to grant "additional flexibility" in the bloc's budget rules ‌to factor in the impact of spiking inflation driven by energy costs, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.

Kuwait energy firm Q8 will introduce a price cap on Italian petrol pump prices for one month starting from October ​1, it said on Tuesday, following similar commitments by Italy's Eni and Azerbaijan's SOCAR.

Italy plans to confirm ​a commitment to bring its deficit-to-GDP ratio below the European Union's 3% ceiling in 2026 ‌from 3.1% in 2025, sources said, as the government finalises a new budget plan due in the next few weeks.

Italy will abstain from a vote at a Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) shareholder ‌meeting called to approve defensive acquisitions to fend off a hostile takeover by Intesa Sanpaolo , Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Wednesday.

The cost ​of servicing Italy's public debt is rising at "an alarming rate" in the wake of geopolitical tensions, ‌Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday, as the government prepares to update its budget plans for 2027 onwards.

Italy ​will handle its residual 4.9% stake in Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) in a way ‌that does not interfere with M&A moves affecting the bailed-out lender, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told reporters on Wednesday.

Italy and the United States on Friday will sign off on ​a cooperation agreement on the so-called ‌Pax Silica initiative on artificial intelligence supply chains, a statement from Rome's foreign ministry said ​on Wednesday.