Italy: Rome Incites Brussels' Budgetary Fury

Intent on defiance, Italy has refused the European Commission's requests to introduce meaningful changes to its budget for 2019. The commission is worried that Italy's budget will worsen the country's deficit and lead to low economic growth -- not a small thing for a country where public debt is above 130 percent of the gross domestic product. The commission had given Italy a Nov. 13 deadline to present an updated budget, but Rome returned to Brussels with only minimal amendments. As a result, the commission will likely trigger a process that could lead to financial sanctions against Italy....