The Italian senate is set to vote on a tough austerity budget, which proposes cuts of 48bn euros ($67bn; £42bn) over three years.

意大利参议员将就实行严格的紧缩预算进行投票，这项措施意在三年之内削减480亿欧元开支。

Italy wants to reduce one of the largest budget deficits² in the eurozone and avoid any need for a bail-out.

Correspondents say the budget is likely to be approved by the upper house, and then in the lower house on Friday.

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has said Italy is on the front line of the eurozone's economic difficulties.

The BBC's Gavin Hewitt says both the government and the opposition³ know that Italy is under fierce scrutiny⁴（审查，监视） by the markets due to its large debts.

Earlier this week, the International Monetary⁵ Fund (IMF) asked Italy to ensure "decisive implementation⁶" of spending cuts.

In a report, the IMF said Italy must make efforts to reduce public debt, maintain the stability of its financial sector⁷ and introduce structural⁸ reforms to boost growth.

The vote comes amid concerns that Italy may be the next country to be hit by the eurozone's debt crisis.

Opposition parties have said they may vote against the measures, but that they will not mount delaying tactics, meaning the government's majority should be enough to see it through.

Italy's Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti is proposing 48bn euros in budget cuts over three years, and aims to cut the deficit¹ to zero by 2014 from this year's 3.9% of gross domestic product.