Repubblica reports

  • Says that EU demands that the deficit target be at least 1.95%

It sure looks like Conte has given up on trying to convince Salvini and Di Maio to get the deficit target below the 2.0% mark. However, with the report saying that the European Commission is demanding the deficit target below the figure level it's hard to see how anything higher would be approved.

Update: Il Messaggero now reports that Salvini and Di Maio are refusing to accept a budget deficit target below 2.2%. Given this predicament, I just don't see how Italy and the European Commission can reach a resolution on the matter. At this juncture, EDP measures are looking more and more likely by the day.