Italian deputies on Friday voted overwhelmingly in favour of a draft 2017 budget that the European Commission has warned will breach EU rules on the management of public finances. A vote of confidence designed to curtail debate on the first reading of the budget bill was carried by 348-144 votes, making its definitive approval by the lower house of parliament on Monday a formality.
Italy was one of eight eurozone countries warned last week that they could face fines and restricted access to funds from Brussels over their failure to stick to the EU's Stability Pact rules. Under centre-left premier Matteo Renzi, Italy has been the most upfront about its intention to defy the Commission with growth-orientated spending plans for next year. Italy is proposing to run a budget deficit of 2.4 percent of GDP for the year, significantly higher than the 1.8 percent level it had promised to deliver earlier this year.