Italy Finance Minister Joins French Call for Stronger Euro Area

(Bloomberg) -- Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria joined his French counterpart in calling for improved functioning of the euro area, as he seeks to reaffirm the government’s support for the 19-nation single currency.

Tria’s office issued a joint statement in Rome after he met with Bruno Le Maire in Rome on Wednesday morning.

“The ministers agreed to prioritize work on the completion of all aspects of the banking union and the creation of a euro area budget to ensure greater stabilization and convergence within the euro area,” the statement said.

Some members of the government led by the populist Five Star Movement and anti-immigration League have questioned whether Italy should remain in the euro. While investors’ concerns remain, Tria and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte have repeatedly said the country will stay in the currency union.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Costelloe in Rome at kcostelloe@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Kevin Costelloe, Dan Liefgreen

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