The EC initiated an infringement procedure against Italy for late payments by PA

A Letter of Formal Notice will be sent today. Italy must answer within five weeks or it will be imposed financial penalties up to €4bn

As announced in Rome last week by the European Commission Vice President, Antonio Tajani, the EC has opened an infringement procedure against Italy for violating the European Directive on late payments by Public Authorities to economic operators.

During a press conference in Rome, Vice President Tajani has explained that “following the complaints for violations of the EU Directive sent by several Associations, I have decided to start an infringement procedure against Italy, for violating art. 4 and 7 of the European Directive on combating late payments in commercial transactions (2011/7/EU).

A Letter of Formal Notice has been sent on 3 February and “and Italy must answer within 5 weeks, for demonstrating the violation did not take place, or it will be subject to financial penalties.” If the European Commission is not satisfied with the information given, Italy risks a burdensome penalty – about €3/4bn, or “the earnings from the municipal tax on properties (IMU),” said Tajani.

Tajani did not want to argue with the Italian Minister of Economy, Fabrizio Saccomanni, according to whom Italy is registering a remarkable acceleration in payment times, despite the EC statements. “Neither the European Commission nor I want to argue with anyone: Italy has 5 weeks to demonstrate that the European Directive has been respected – in that case, we would be very happy.”