Brussels – Four new infringement procedures, in addition to another one already underway, make up the monthly package of European Commission decisions against Member States. This does not bode well for Italy and its government, and indeed, on the eve of the summer break, this is no traditional “happy holidays” greeting. On the contrary, the decisions taken on behalf of the country sound like “enjoy your work”, given the number of measures that the governing coalition is now called upon to finalise.
The list of newly opened proceedings against Italy includes in first place the one for the violation of the methane regulation, which the country deserves (together with Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Spain) “having failed to designate, and notify to the Commission, a competent authority to monitor and ensure compliance with the rules.” The second infringement is for failing to comply with EU customs data transmission obligations, as required by the Union Customs Code.
Speaking of taxation, the European Commission has opened a third infringement procedure regarding the discriminatory taxation of income for natural persons engaged in a business, artistic, or professional activity. This is a restriction on the freedom of establishment, a blatant violation of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the Agreement on the European Economic Area. In the area of taxation, the reductions on the single municipal tax (IMU) and waste tax (TARI) for pensioners not resident in Italy would be contrary to the common rules on the free movement of workers, as well as the rules on freedom of establishment, providing grounds for a fourth infringement.
Finally, a considered opinion was sent, which is the second step in the procedure and precedes any referral to the Court. The directive on bank recovery and resolution, better known as “Daisy chains II”, was to be fully transposed into national law by 13 November 2024. This did not happen in the cases of Italy, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. For all, therefore, it is a call to order.
For all five files, the time to convince the European Commission not to take further action is two months. If Italy wants to avoid the worst, the country will have to work. For the summer of 2025, no bathing government.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
