BERLIN: Italy is to commit €8.0 billion ($A11.16 billion) to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s plan to boost economic growth.
EU leaders last December approved the broad outline of Juncker’s €315 billion investment plan, intended to kick-start growth in Europe by financing hundreds of projects.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Tuesday Italy was pledging “eight billion euros” to the program, matching a commitment from France this month and €1.5 billion promised by Spain at the end of February.
Germany has also committed €15bn to the plan, though other EU member states have been slower to react.
The ball is rolling! Italy is the fourth member state to pledge a sizeable contribution to our Investment Plan for Europe,” European Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen said.
