German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she would work with any coalition government formed in Italy, but she also warned that any discussions on economic policy would have to be within the rules governing the euro zone. Commenting on the situation in Italy, the most heavily indebted country in the euro zone after Greece, Merkel said: "We should talk with every government but we have principles within the euro area and of course there will be difficult questions." But we have to do that task, since Italy is an important member of the EU," she added. In Berlin, a government spokesman stressed Germany's respect for Italian democracy and political institutions and said Berlin hoped for a stable government in Italy. In Brussels, Germany's Europe minister Michael Roth said Berlin hoped that Italy would form a stable and pro-European government soon.

Source: dna May 28, 2018 14:48 UTC