(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, MAY 23 - The European Commission deems a new stop of the Stability and Growth Pact justified throughout 2023. "The increased uncertainty and the strong downside risks to the economic prospects in the context of the war in Ukraine, the unprecedented increases in energy prices and the continuous disturbances of the supply chain justify the extension of the general safeguard clause "which suspends the obligations of the Pact" in 2023 ", according to the recommendations of the spring package of the European semester.
The clause will be deactivated "starting from 2024".
As clarified by the vice president of the Commission, ValdisDombrovskis, the suspension does not, however, mean "a liberatutti".
For this reason, the EU in any case sends its notices to the member countries, starting with Italy.
According to Brussels, "the ratio of public debt to GDP began to decline in 2021 and a further decline is expected, but a risk to fiscal sustainability, the financial sector and economic growth remains".
"Italy - the Commission reiterates - is experiencing excessive imbalances. The vulnerabilities concern high public debt and weak productivity growth, in a context of fragility of the labor market and some weaknesses of the financial markets, which have cross-border relevance".
(HANDLE).