Italy’s Prime Minister Defends ‘Beautiful’ Budget as EU Steps Up Pressure

Italy’s Prime Minister Defends ‘Beautiful’ Budget as EU Steps Up Pressure
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte arrives at the European Union leaders summit in Brussels,on October 18, 2018. Reuters/Piroschka van de Wouw
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BRUSSELS—Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended the country’s “beautiful” 2019 budget, brushing off criticism from Brussels as European authorities stepped up pressure for changes to a draft that breaches the bloc’s fiscal rules on Oct. 18.

Conte also denied a rift over the fiscal plan within his governing coalition, after reports of a spat over tax revenues.