Italian voters will go to the polls on Sunday in a hotly-contested election which is being keenly monitored by the EU leadership in Brussels.
Most indications point towards a political stalemate and hung parliament, likely prompting weeks of heated talks in what has been an aggressive election campaign.
According to euronews, the EU could decide to go ahead with discussing its anticipated reforms and lock Italy out of the negotiation table.
This would represent a shock move that would likely enrage Italian voters, who have complained that the EU “abandoned them” over the recent migration crisis.
Such a decision would also prove controversial after the EU decided to wait for Germany to regain political stability before moving ahead with its reform.
Reporting from Brussels, Euronews’ Elena Cavallone said: “Uncertainty is a reality that Italians have been used to for years, but at time when Europe is preparing to implement major reforms, political instability risks leaving Italy on the sidelines of discussions about the future.”
The latest forecast for Italy predicts that the result will not be decisive and plunge the country into weeks of contentious coalition talks.
During this, the EU could begin to push ahead with its long-awaited reform plans, that has been seen as a power grab by the European Commission, France and Germany.
Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has already pledged to work with French President Emmanuel Macron to ensure that 2018 is a year of fundamental reforms in Brussels, including closer economic union.
Fears over long-term instability in Italy adds to existing concerns over high unemployment and €2 trillion mountain of debt in the country.
Experts believe the eventual outcome may be a right-wing eurosceptic coalition, or a grand coalition with the ruling Democratic Party.
Riccardo, a Italian radiologist working in Belgium, told the broadcaster: “Having a future in Italy at the moment is impossible.
“Many colleagues of mine tell me about their experiences and their continuous battles: sometimes they sacrifice entire days to have nothing in the end, sometimes they aren’t even paid. There are unbelievable stories out there.”