Giuseppe Fonte

European Union authorities are considering an accounting change that would increase Italy's towering public debt, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, adding the Italian authorities were in negotiation.

Italy intends to use its right to intervene on UniCredit's bid for Banco BPM in a reasonable manner, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Wednesday, appearing to rule out a hardline approach to the deal.

Italy has proposed to its EU partners a common guarantee scheme triggering defence and aerospace private investments in the bloc worth up to 200 billion euros ($216.48 billion), while limiting any impact on state coffers.

Italy approved a set of measures on Friday worth roughly 3 billion euros ($3.12 billion) to help families and business cope with energy costs, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday.

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday that European Union countries would have to respond individually to any trade tariffs imposed by the United States, rather than rely solely on a common EU response.

Any increase in national defence spending should also be aimed at boosting economic growth, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday, as European states grapple with U.S. pressure to shoulder the costs of their own security.

Italy will unveil a set of measures on Friday worth roughly 3 billion euros ($3.14 billion) to help families and firms cope with high energy costs, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said.

Italy on Wednesday called on the European Union to help allow countries to boost their defence spending without infringing the bloc's budget rules, as member states grapple with U.S. pressure to pay more for their own security.

State-backed Poste Italiane is ready to increase its recently acquired stake in Telecom Italia (TIM) , three sources said, in a move that would strengthen its position in any potential M&A deal involving the phone group.

Italy has put on hold plans by private equity fund CVC and French telecoms operator Iliad to buy into Telecom Italia (TIM) and consolidate the country's telecoms sector, three sources close to the matter told Reuters.