2016 Update to the EFD: letter to Presidents of the Chamber and the Senate

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Office, Giuseppe Pisauro, today sent the Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate a letter in which he states that the “PBO gave its assessment of the policy macroeconomic scenario in the Update to the 2016 EFD in the hearing of 3 October” and that “there is therefore a divergence of opinion with the Government”.

However, he notes “that the principle of ‘comply or explain’ set out in Article 19, paragraph 3, of Law 243/2012 does not require the Government to comply but rather requires that it explain “the reasons for which it intends to confirm its own assessment or to adjust that assessment in conformity with those of the Office”.

The letter concludes “the validation process for the macroeconomic forecasts to be presented in the Draft Budgetary Plan, if different, remains open”.