Italy’s Tria says he wants to pursue budget efforts next year

BRUSSELS, July 8 (Reuters) – Italy’s Finance Minister Giovanni Tria said on Monday Rome wanted to continue efforts to improve its public finances in 2020 after already having committed to correcting them this year.

Tria said Italy had made an important effort this year, which allowed the country to avert disciplinary steps from the EU over its debt. “We need to continue in that direction,” Tria said when asked about Italy’s plans for next year.

He also said he favoured lower direct taxes on jobs, which could be offset with higher indirect levies, like sale taxes, to support growth. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Editing by Gabriela Baczynska)