Duncan Stewart, CFA

The EU's policing of its budget rules might actually encourage countries to breach its limits, writes Viktoria Dendrinou. Although the EU has reprimanded countries for breaking the Stability and Growth Pact, it has ultimately stopped short of imposing sanctions on offenders. Bloomberg (tiered subscription model) (20 Jan.)

Italy's central bank expects the country's economy to grow by just 0.6% this year and 0.9% in 2020, according to its latest quarterly economic bulletin, down from earlier projections of 1% and 1.1%, respectively. Vincenzo Boccia, head of business lobby Confindustria, said the Italian government must do more to stimulate growth and cut the deficit. Yahoo (20 Jan.)

Ireland rejected a proposal by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to negotiate a bilateral deal over its post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland. Instead, Ireland continues to support the Brexit deal agreed upon by the British government and the EU, said Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney. Politico (20 Jan.)