Draghi warns Italy about breaking the rules as Italian bonds crumble - Bloomberg

As reported by Bloomberg, ECB President Mario Draghi delivered a fresh round of warnings on breaking the rules as Italian bonds continue to sell off.

Key quotes

Mario Draghi told European Union leaders that questioning the bloc’s rules can worsen financial conditions and damage growth, according to an official familiar with his remarks, which are likely aimed at Italy’s budget dispute with the EU Commission.

The European Central Bank president’s warning, delivered at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, comes as Italy gears for a standoff with the EU’s executive arm over concerns that the country’s budget will breach the bloc’s fiscal rules. The gap between Italian and German bond yields has widened to the highest since 2013, when the region was just coming out of a sovereign debt crisis, raising questions over the sustainability of the country’s public finances.

The summit was originally seen as an occasion for leaders to look at efforts to strengthen the euro area so that it can better withstand future crises. But concerns over Italy’s spending plans cast a shadow over the discussion, with leaders urging the European Commission to ensure it implements the bloc’s rules.