EU scolds Italy: “Take action on conflict of interest and guarantee media independence”

The 2025 report on the rule of law in Italy identifies "limited, reduced or no progress" on some of the key recommendations expressed last year , in particular on the rules to regulate conflict of interest and lobbying, including the establishment of the national register, or in addressing "effectively and rapidly the practice of channeling donations through foundations and political associations". Protection for journalists is also bad, given that there is no progress "in continuing the legislative process relating to the reform project on defamation and the protection of professional secrecy".
The report highlights "some progress in adopting the pending legislative proposal on conflicts of interest and limited progress in adopting comprehensive rules on lobbying". The measures adopted to mitigate corruption in public procurement are good, as the Commission writes that it remains a high risk.
Freedom of the pressParticular attention is then paid to freedom of the press. "Although there are specific rules and initiatives for their protection, journalists continue to encounter difficulties in exercising their profession", we read in the report, which highlights the increase in cases of intimidation and threats against the category. "Increasingly worrying" is the use of gag lawsuits against journalists reported by some stakeholders.
The Paragon CaseAnd the report also includes the Paragon case, the spyware that was allegedly used by Italian secret services to target journalists. The accusation is not supported by the Copasir report, the Commission recalls, which nevertheless highlights the "concerns" raised regarding the "unprecedented use in Italy" of spyware against a journalist.
The RaiA chapter of the report is then dedicated to Rai. Palazzo Berlaymont records some progress on the recommendation expressed last year regarding the financing of public service media. On the subject of pluralism, however, there is a divergence of views between the government, which cites the "numerous journalistic investigations on members of the Government and its parliamentary majority" broadcast in Rai programs, and some stakeholders who express concern in relation to "the vulnerability of Rai to the risks of undue interference in the current governance and financing framework" and the "lack of legislative progress to address these issues".
Also contested is the decision of the CEO of Rai to introduce 'editorial directors' for all the programs of the broadcaster: for Viale Mazzini, a decision that was part of the efforts of internal reorganization. While instead "for the stakeholders" with this decision "the risks of undue interference by the management towards the journalists and the Rai editorial staff increase". The expression stakeholders refers to the opinions of third-party organizations such as "the Fnsi", cited in the report.
La Repubblica