EU is expected to open a disciplinary procedure over Italy 's spiralling debt, but offer six months for the country's government to address its most pressing economic shortfalls, rather than one , according to minutes of an EU meeting. In 2018 , Italy 's debt reached more than 132% of GDP, far beyond the EU limit of 60% , and is expected to climb even further. Unless the government makes concessions this week on its spending plans for 2019 and 2020, the EU executive is expected to propose on July 2 that a disciplinary procedure be opened over Italy’s rising debt. Economic commissioner Francesco Guarascio said the decision to give Brussels until next January aimed to prevent the EU 's position from being "exploited for political ends in certain quarters in Italy ".
EU is expected to open a disciplinary procedure over Italy 's spiralling debt, but offer six months for the country's government to address its most pressing economic shortfalls, rather than one , according to minutes of an EU meeting. In 2018 , Italy 's debt reached more than 132% of GDP, far beyond the EU limit of 60% , and is expected to climb even further. Economic commissioner Francesco Guarascio said the decision to give Brussels until next January aimed to prevent the EU 's position from being "exploited for political ends in certain quarters in Italy ".