As the EU remains divided over the response to the migration crisis, Renzi threatened to scupper the bloc's draft budget for 2017, which is due to be discussed and voted on by the European parliament on Wednesday, October 26.
"We give €20 billion (US$22bn) to Europe so that we can get back 12 — and if Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia want to preach at us about immigrants, allow Italy to say that the system is no longer working," Renzi told RAI 1 television.
Italian Premier Renzi threatens "Veto on EU budget 2017 unless help to Italy for immigration emergency"
— Alessio Pisanò (@AlessioPisano) October 25, 2016
When questioned further over whether he was willing to veto the EU's budget over the migrant situation, Renzi replied, "yes, absolutely."
"If you build walls against immigrants, you can forget about seeing Italian money. If the immigrants don't go there, the money won't go there either," he said.
@JonathanArnott @Mov5Stelle Renzi irritated Hungary gets Italian money & builds fences whilst they have a migrant crisis. Veto threat :-)
— JohnYoung (@Youngman54) October 26, 2016
Renzi said Italian resources were struggling to deal with the increasing number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to reach Italy, with 155,000 people arriving on Italian shores this year, equaling the number in 2015.
"Italy cannot take another year like the one we've just had," he said, calling for action to be taken to reduce flows across the Mediterranean.
EU Divisions Widening
The comments mark an increase in tension over the matter, with Renzi taking aim at the stance of some central and eastern European member states who have vehemently rejected proposals that would see member states accept migrants currently in Italy and Greece.
Chief among these countries is Hungary, which earlier this month held a referendum on the issue of EU-coordinated migrant relocation systems.
Orbán: The European Commission's quota plan has no chance to reach consensus in the Council, Hungary would never support it #EUCO
— Mariann Őry (@otmarianna) October 20, 2016
And while not enough people voted to validate the referendum, 98 percent of those who took part backed the hardline stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has rejected calls to assist with the relocation of migrants.
The spat has further highlighted the various divisions in the EU in regards to the migration crisis, with member states failing to come to a consensus on the matter.
Renzi's Budgetary Timing
Renzi's threat also comes as the European Parliament on Wednesday, discusses and votes on the draft general EU budget for 2017.
Italy has been at the centre of budgetary debate, with Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan confirming that the government had received a letter from the European Commission demanding "clarifications" over its 2017 national budget.
European Commission sends inspectors to #Italy fin ministry to check on new budget measures. Highly unusual, signals widening frictions
— Domenico Lombardi (@domeniclombardi) October 24, 2016
Italy has predicted a higher than expected deficit of 2.3 percent in 2017, citing a deadly earthquake in August and the increased costs associated with housing migrants.
It's thought that Renzi's threat to scupper the EU budget could win Rome some concessions in regards to public spending.
Italy's draft budgetary plan is out. As expected government eyes 1% growth in 2016 and pencils a 2.3% budget deficit https://t.co/xSvnQzuTg2
— Ferdinando Giugliano (@FerdiGiugliano) October 18, 2016
The disagreement comes amid a wider debate in the EU, with Italy, France and others pushing for more fiscal flexibility in order to reverse the policies of austerity and promote growth.
However Rome is facing stiff opposition in the form of Germany, with Berlin calling for existing policies that restrict levels of public spending to remain in place.
