Italy's Renzi threatens to cut money for CEE over refugee crisis

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi warned Eastern European leaders on Thursday that they may get less European Union development money if they do not help with the refugee crisis, Reuters reported. "The migration crisis is a common problem for all EU countries. If you do not show solidarity, countries contributing the most to the EU budget may show less solidarity with you," quoted Reuters, citing one person familiar with Renzi's comments to fellow leaders at a dinner, which lasted into the early hours of Friday. He threatened Eastern European countries with reductions in EU development funds channelled to their poorest regions. Negotiations for the next seven-year budget will start this year. Italy is the third biggest contributor to the EU budget after Germany and France. As the costs of sheltering asylum seekers are growing, the countries hosting most of them are calling for some financial support from the EU budget.