French Claim of Italian ‘Fiscal Dumping’ Draws Rebuke by Meloni

The article discusses a dispute between Italy and France over allegations of "fiscal dumping" by Italy. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire accused Italy of lowering taxes in a bid to attract businesses, which he claims gives Italy an unfair economic advantage within the EU. However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly rejected these accusations, stating that Italy is simply working to make its tax system more competitive and efficient. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension within the EU over tax policies and the balance between national sovereignty and coordinated economic policies. While some countries argue that tax competition is harmful and leads to a "race to the bottom," others believe that each member state should have the right to set its own fiscal policies to attract investment and spur economic growth. The article suggests that this disagreement reflects the broader challenge of reconciling the diverse economic interests and priorities of EU member states as they seek to maintain a unified economic bloc.