Brussels – Bad governance costs around 87 million euros a year, totaling a bill in the billions. That’s how much Italy has had to pay in fines imposed by the European Union for failing to comply with EU rules. These penalties inevitably fall on citizens in the form of public resources diverted from other investments. Schools, healthcare, workplace safety, training: whatever public service one might choose, the money isn’t there because the country has squandered an enormous sum.
“Since 2012, Italy has
paid EUR 1.2 billion following judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union in
infringement procedures imposing financial sanctions against Italy,” said Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU economy commissioner, who provided the figures stemming from Italy’s shortcomings in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Five Star Movement lawmaker Giuseppe Antoci
Italy’s institutional framework and political class have effectively squandered resources that could have boosted national efficiency and competitiveness, hindered in part by structural problems like waste management. The hefty bill for Italy’s non-compliance is in serious danger of rising further, as “there are currently 69 ongoing infringement procedures against Italy,” Dombrovskis points out. So many pending proceedings could lead to referrals to the EU Court of Justice, with the risk of fines. To be clear, “the Member State alone is responsible for compliance with the obligations arising under EU law,” the Commissioner for Economic Affairs points out. In other words, don’t look for excuses or someone to blame.
There are various situations across the country, all specific to their regions. One of these is the situation in Sicily. In his question, Antoci asks about the cases opened in Brussels against the region with special status, and here Dombrovskis is less specific: “Ongoing infringement procedures with recent decisions
that involve the region of Sicily concern the implementation of electronic tolling and the
management of the spread of invasive alien species.” In addition, there is the Court of Justice’s hefty fine for delays and irregularities in wastewater management at the national level, which also involves three Sicilian agglomerations.
