ROME, 18 May 2026 – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pressing the European Union for greater budget flexibility to help member states manage elevated energy costs, arguing that energy security should receive treatment similar to defence spending under the bloc’s fiscal framework.
The request reflects growing pressure on Italy’s public finances as Rome tries to protect households and businesses from energy-price volatility while staying within EU deficit limits. Italy has pledged to reduce its budget deficit to 2.9% of gross domestic product in 2026, just below the EU’s 3% ceiling, but the government has warned that rising energy costs could complicate that path.
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