EU news: Italy anti-EU leader Salvini takes BRUTAL DIG at Juncker amid growing tensions | World | News | Express.co.uk

Italy's deputy leader Matteo Salvini slapped down the Eurocrat after Mr Juncker suggesting the eurosceptic Italian Government could catapult the country into a Greece-like economic crisis. 

Jean-Claude Juncker said the European Union must do "everything to avoid" a new financial slump in the bloc after Italy put forward plans for a 2.4 percent deficit increase in its 2019 budget.

But Mr Salvini did not let the thinly-veiled threat slide, hitting back on La7 show Tagadà on Tuesday: "I only speak to sober people who don’t make unrealistic comparisons.

"In such a big family there are no first class or second class children. If someone in Brussels babbles because they regret the loss of a precarious and fearful Italy – maybe to make business at a lower price using spread and the markets to scare people – they found the wrong Minister and the wrong Government."

Mr Salvini had previously urged the EU Commissioner to "drink two glasses of water" before speaking or face demands for "compensation" from the Italian Government. 

He continued: "The President of the European Commission, comparing Italy to Greece, is making the spread gap go insane. He could have spared us that.

"Before opening his mouth, he should drink two glasses of water and stop spreading inexistent threats. Or we will ask for compensation."

The eurosceptic politician appeared to echo similar digs at the European Commissioner from former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

Speaking at the Tory Party conference on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: "I will reveal that I have one overriding anxiety about the current political scene, both domestic and international.

"It isn’t global warming or terrorism or Rouhani’s Iran or Putin’s Russia – real though all those challenges are. It’s not the negotiating tactics of Jean-Claude Juncker – before or after lunch."

In July, world leaders were filmed helping hold up Mr Juncker after stumbling and losing his balance ahead of a NATO dinner.

The EU Commission boss has previously blamed the unsteadiness on sciatica, which can cause numbness or weakness of the legs.

Speaking after the event, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas confirmed   Mr   Juncker had ”suffered from a particularly painful attack of sciatica" which was “accompanied with cramps”.

When asked by a reporter if Mr Juncker was drunk, Mr Schinas said it is "more than tasteless that some press tried to make insulting headlines by exploiting President Juncker's pain."

European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein told Express.co.uk: “The President's respect and, indeed, affection for Italy and the Italian people is well known.

“As far as the draft budget is concerned, the Commission will assess it once it is submitted, based on the rules and procedures in place – as always.”

Riding the wave of discontent with the EU, Italy's other deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio warned the Government "won't stop" despite threats from Brussels.

Mr Di Maio said: "The EU threatens us but we won’t stop. We are most definitely concerned about the spread but we have a different focus.

"Yesterday, someone was unhappy spread hadn’t reached 350 yet so in the afternoon EU Commissioners and the Commission President came out with comments to create some tension and markets are sensitive to the statements of the Commission."

The Italian government is now obliged to send its draft budgetary play to Brussels by October 15, with the actual budget being published by October 20. The European Commission will then issue a response by October 22.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1026127/EU-news-Italy-Matteo-Salvini-Jean-Claude-Juncker-economy-budget-debate-latest-Di-Maio