Italy says EU proposal on new budget rules needs improving

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday a European Commission proposal to reform the EU's budget rules was not in line with Rome's requests.

"The Commission's proposal is not exactly what we want ... we will do everything to improve it," she told the lower house of parliament ahead of a summit of European Union leaders on March 23-24.

"I agree that we should establish governance parameters that take (economic) growth more into account," she added.