(ANSA) - Rome, December 7 - The European Commission said
Thursday that it has referred Italy to the EU Court of Justice
over late payments by the Italian public authorities to
private-sector suppliers.
Under the EU's Late Payment Directive, public authorities
have to pay for the goods and services they procure within 30
days or, in very exceptional circumstances, within 60 days of
receiving the bill.
"The Commission acknowledges the efforts made by the Italian
government to improve the situation since the launch of the
infringement procedure with a letter of formal notice in June
2014 and the subsequent reasoned opinion sent in February 2017,"
the EC said.
"However, more than three years after the launch of the
infringement procedure, the Italian public authorities still
take on average 100 days to settle their invoices, with peaks
which can considerably exceed this figure".
It said the decision to refer Italy to the court was aimed at
protecting European businesses, particularly small- and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Italy referred to court for late payment (3)
Italian authorities still taking too long to settle invoices