After days of tension, the Eurogroup seems to find an agreement that satisfies everyone from Italy to Holland, launching an economic plan with a total of 500 billion. Crimes and Treasury sources deny that Italy has asked for the activation of the state-saving fund.
"I have only one word - Conte tweets - my position and that of the government on the Mes has never changed and will never change. Later in the press conference I will update you on this and other important issues concerning our country. See you later ".
"Let's clarify one thing - says the political leader of the M5s Vito Crimi - the MES has not been activated. Who says it hurts the country. The MES has not been activated, only a proposal has been made". In any case, he added, "we do not accept the Mes because the conditions are not there now but there will be: the text says no but the Treaty says yes. We consider the Mes an unsuitable tool to face the crisis: it does not now but in the future. Of course we could have an opportunistic attitude, let's move on now, then tomorrow we'll see: but we won't do it. " "We do not want the Mes to be in the text and in any case even if it were there we would never vote for it. Does this mean that Conte cannot subscribe to the proposal? Let's hear what President Conte tells us today: we still have to listen to him to know what the result is and how he placed himself within the Eurogroup. I believe that Conte will also amaze us on this occasion ". Sul Mes, said Crimi again, the Prime Minister "has his back covered. The government has been strong and tough and has brought the line of yes to Eurobonds and no to Mes to all the tables".
For the Minister of Economy, Roberto Gualtieri "it was an excellent first half, now we have to win the game. We went from an original text, on which we had vetoed, which contained a single proposal, the Mes with some conditions Thanks to our battle, we have arrived at a text with 4 instruments and for the first time puts on the table the proposal for a recovery fund financed with common titles, which is exactly the proposal of Italy ". Then there are the Bei funds, the Shure and an unconditional share of the Mes. " On the recovery plan there will be the toughest battle ." The package exists for us if there are all four elements, "he said." There is it is a significant change of perspective - he continued - we do not ask for the mutualisation of past debt but that the resources to face this emergency are common. The more they are, the stronger we will be to overcome the crisis and restart the economy. I believe that the position that Italy is courageously holding will prevail, it is already prevailing, "said the minister speaking of the Bei and Shure funds" which are financed by issuing bonds. We - continued the minister - believe that a total of 1,500 billion are needed at European level. At the moment three of the four instruments put in place handle 500 billion, we believe we need at least one trillion, one trillion and a half (1,000, 1,500 billion referring to trillion, ed), fed by common securities ".
Those of the opposition "are grotesque accusations: perhaps Salvini and Meloni are unaware that Mes already exists, and that there are conditionalities, that is, control of the troika. The Eurogroup has proposed, and not decided, that Mes can offer, in addition to the mechanism that the troika, also an unconditional tool from which, the countries that want it, not Italy, will be able to take money unconditionally ". Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said this when speaking to Uno Mattina. "Italy and Prime Minister Conte have said and repeated that the Mes is not suitable to face the crisis".
"With 500 billion, European countries are coordinating for an economic policy alongside the monetary policy of the ECB. It is a first step, but it is also the first time. The Fund for rebirth is the next challenge of this common commitment. Europe is solidarity". So on Twitter Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni in the aftermath of the Eurogroup meeting.
