Brussels – A body designed to counter unfair treatment based on ethnic, cultural, or other discrimination. In theory, it is supposed to operate autonomously, but in Italy, it ends up being run by the centre-right government, which is less concerned with inclusion. The UNAR, the National Anti-Racial Discrimination Office, becomes a political case. The issue is raised by MEPs from the Democratic Party (PD), who bring to the attention of the European Commission to what they call the interference of the Meloni government, which, however, the EU executive does not intend to disturb for the moment.
The underlying issue is that UNAR, which has been active since 2003, has a politically appointed director. “He is appointed by the President of the Council,” i.e. the Italian prime minister, and therefore “the principles of independence and impartiality are undermined and the body is subject to the political influence of the government,” denounce the signatories of the question addressed to the college of commissioners. The latter has been warned that in Italy, with the current government, UNAR would “slow down the funding of anti-discrimination projects and interrupt formal relations with civil society organisations and human rights defenders, in particular with LGBTQIA+ associations.”
The Commission takes note and stalls. Hadja Lahbib, responsible for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, replies, anticipating that the Meloni government will not be disturbed for the time being. The specific case is related to the directive on standards for equality bodies, which, however, has not yet entered into force, and member states have until 19 June 2026 to transpose it. “On reaching the transposition date of 19 June 2026, the Commission will check whether the transposition measures notified by the Member States comply with the directive,” Lahbib explains. “If the transposition is not compliant,” then the EU executive “will take swift action, including launching infringement proceedings if appropriate.”
The Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib [photo: Claudio Centonze/imagoeconomica]
Therefore, until next year, UNAR will continue to operate without the European Commission intervening in any way. Then, after June 2026, the appropriate checks will begin, and the process could proceed thereafter. Then Italy will enter the electoral campaign, as there will be a vote in September 2027 to renew the Parliament, and it might be inelegant to introduce measures that could affect the debate and the vote.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
