Italy Still Confident of 1% Growth This Year, Top Official Says.

Italy's government is confident that the country's economic growth will reach 1% this year, which is important for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to fulfill her debt-cut commitments with the European Union. Finance Ministry Undersecretary Federico Freni expressed this confidence at a recent forum, but did not provide details on the measures or calculations being discussed for the upcoming budget. Meloni's government aims to reduce Italy's deficit to below 3% within the next two years to address concerns about the country's large debts. The government's plans may involve cuts to public spending or reneging on promised giveaways. Additionally, Freni emphasized the need for the privatization of state-owned businesses to be carried out at the right time. [Extracted from the article]