{
  "id": 11411410,
  "title": "Meloni asks Brussels for fiscal leeway as energy shock squeezes Italy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/meloni-asks-brussels-for-fiscal-leeway-as-energy-shock-squeezes-italy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:53:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/02/meloni-asks-brussels-for-fiscal-leeway-as-energy-shock-squeezes-italy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is requesting increased fiscal flexibility from Brussels as the country grapples with the impact of soaring energy prices, according to a letter seen by Euronews. Meloni argues that EU fiscal rules are becoming increasingly restrictive in the face of inflation-driven government spending increases. She notes that European energy markets are \"extremely tight,\" with oil prices up nearly 80% and gas prices up to 156% due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.\n\nMeloni points out that Italy, which is approaching elections next year, has one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in the EU, behind only Greece, which has also requested a relaxation of fiscal rules. She argues that while governments are collecting more tax revenue due to higher prices, EU fiscal rules make it difficult to use that additional revenue to provide temporary energy support.\n\nTo address this issue, Meloni is asking Brussels to acknowledge that some of the additional spending is not a result of governments choosing to spend more, but rather that inflation is mechanically increasing existing obligations. She seeks the Commission's help to allow at least part of the additional revenues to be used for targeted measures to alleviate the impact of high energy prices. EU budget rules currently limit how much governments can increase spending based on their initial budget plans, but when inflation exceeds expectations, some government costs automatically rise, leaving less room to absorb those extra costs.",
  "summary": "Italian prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is urging the European Commission again to relax the EU's fiscal rules, saying that higher inflation due to soaring energy prices is squeezing households and businesses, according to a letter seen by Euronews.",
  "key_points": [
    "Italian PM Giorgia Meloni seeks increased fiscal flexibility from Brussels.",
    "EU energy markets extremely tight, oil prices up 80%, gas prices up 156%.",
    "Meloni argues inflation-driven spending increases exceed current EU fiscal rules."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}