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Italy's Monti condemns US blasts as 'cowardly act'

April 16, 2013 03:30
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Tuesday sent a message to US President Barack Obama condemning blasts at the Boston Marathon which left three dead and more than 100 injured as "a cowardly act". "I am sure that even in these painful circumstances, America will know how to react by reaffirming the fundamental values of its great civilization," the outgoing Italian premier said in reaction to the explosions on Monday. He said the blasts were "a cowardly act of violence that prompts disdain and leaves us shocked with its suffering and horror".

Italy debt to reach peak of 130.4% in 2013

April 10, 2013 09:00
Italy's public debt level will reach a peak of 130.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, according to a long-term budget programme issued on Wednesday that forecasts growth will pick up and debt go down starting from next year. The programme was adopted by the cabinet but will have to be amended by the next government, even though political parties have so far failed to strike a deal to end a deadlock that has dragged on since inconclusive elections on February 24-25.

India says close to setting up court to try Italian marines

April 9, 2013 13:46
India told Italy on Tuesday preparations to set up a special court to try two Italian marines facing murder charges over the deaths of two fishermen were at "an advanced stage", official sources said. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the reassurance to his Italian counterpart Mario Monti who had called him for an update on plans for the trial of the two marines, Massimiliano Lattorre and Salvatore Girone, the sources said.

Italy PM Monti says he "can't wait" to leave office

March 27, 2013 14:46
By Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - Caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti, looking tired and distraught, said on Wednesday he was ready to leave office a day after a prominent member of his government resigned over the handling of a dispute with India. Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi - without informing Monti of his intentions - announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he disagreed with the government's decision to send two marines accused of murder to India to stand trial.

Monti urges end to EU rigidity, warns of voter backlash

March 14, 2013 19:15
Outgoing Italian premier Mario Monti urged EU partners on Thursday to grant Italy and other countries facing pressures on public finances leeway to spend for jobs -- or face a voter backlash as he did last month. In a written plea to be freed from European Union reforms and fiscal discipline dictated by markets -- a message that diplomatic sources said came "too late" -- Monti warned that Brussels was in danger of losing popular trust.

Italy's Monti to ask EU summit for flexibility on deficits

March 14, 2013 09:15
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italy will ask its European Union partners to grant it more flexibility in its budget deficit objectives to help efforts to boost its stagnant economy, Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Thursday. "Reasonable margins for flexibility have been introduced and we will ask to be able to avail ourselves of these margins," he told reporters as he went into the meeting in Brussels.

EU Commission says Italy must continue reforms

February 27, 2013 17:30
BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Italy should press ahead with reforms to improve its economic growth potential, the head of the European Union's executive arm said on Wednesday, after Italians voted to reject the austerity policies applied by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti. "The crisis is not yet over and efforts must not be relaxed," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a joint statement with Monti after the two met for talks in Brussels.

EU's Barroso fully confident in Italy

February 27, 2013 16:16
European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday he had full confidence that Italy will prove to be politically stable, in its own interests and those of Europe, after inconclusive polls. "Barroso expressed his full confidence that Italy, as one of Europe's and the world's biggest economies, will ensure the conditions of political stability in the interest of Italy and Europe as a whole," a joint statement said after he met outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Brussels.

Final results in Italy's parliament stalemate

February 26, 2013 14:31
Italy faced political gridlock after elections on Sunday and Monday failed to produce a clear winner, with the centre-left narrowly winning the lower house but no party taking the upper house. The four main forces in parliament are Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left coalition, Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right grouping, the protest Five Star Movement party led by Beppe Grillo and outgoing Premier Mario Monti's centrist coalition. Here are the final results of the elections: Senate (upper house), total 315 seats: - Bersani: 31.63 percent (123 seats)

Oil falls in Asia as traders eye Italian elections

February 25, 2013 02:01
Oil prices eased in Asia on Monday as dealers awaited the outcome of an Italian general election that could weaken the eurozone's single currency, analysts said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, dropped six cents to $93.07 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April shed 12 cents to $113.98. "Italian elections end later today and are keeping traders cautious," said a report from IG Markets Singapore.
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