Italy Scales Back Defence Spending Hike; Eni Extends Fuel Discounts to Farms and Fishing
Ahead of new multi-year forecasts on October 2, sources said Italy would raise this year's growth estimate to close to 1% while scaling back previously planned defence spending increases to keep a lid on its massive public debt. The figures form the basis of the 2027 budget, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's last before a national election due next year.
The same day, energy group Eni said it would extend fuel discounts to agriculture and fishing, offering Enilive customers a 20% discount net of VAT on agricultural and fishing diesel and petrol until October 31, possibly extended to year-end. Eni had earlier capped pump prices, a move followed by Q8, IP and Tamoil.
The steps come after Italian inflation jumped to 4.1% in September amid surging energy costs. The 2026 deficit is estimated at 2.9% of GDP, below the EU's 3% ceiling for the first time since 2019, though public debt is expected to overtake Greece's as the euro zone's highest this year.
With fiscal space tight, Rome plans to make less use of EU budget leeway than previously planned, making the balance between defence and household support the budget's central question.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Fuel, diesel, petrol, methane gas distributor.jpg，作者：Anna.Massini，授权：CC BY 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
