Europe · Thursday, 1 October 2026
Italy's Meloni asks EU for budget flexibility on energy costs
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking that energy-related spending be exempted from EU deficit rules, as it already is for defence. Rising inflation driven by high global energy prices, she argued, means member states need room to support households and businesses. Italy plans to spend 14 billion euros over two years cutting energy costs for businesses.