Italy's Renzi says to use EU presidency to push for budget flexibility pact

FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Italy will propose offering European Union member states that undertake structural reform more flexibility on budget rules when Rome assumes the presidency of the 28-member bloc later this year, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Friday.

Mario Monti prepares Italy for more pain as violence flares in Milan

The upper house of the Italian parliament has given a vote of confidence to the country's new prime minister by 281 to 25, with no abstentions, after he unveiled an ambitious programme of reform.