The Italian government proposes to use 5.2 billion euros in expected improvements in its 2019 budget position to avoid EU disciplinary action for excessive debt, financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore said.

The newspaper said the improvements consisted of expected savings on forecast expenditure of about 2 billion euros and higher-than-expected revenues of 3.2 billion euros, saying Rome would offer to use these to reduce the forecast deficit.

"The package decided yesterday, in summary, is worth 5.2 billion euros in 2019 and would bring the deficit for this year to 2.2% (of gross domestic product)...," Il Sole said.