Technical experts of the Italian
government and the European Commission (EC) are to hold a
meeting by remote on Monday on the application of the rule of
law in Italy as part of a broader activity for an annual report
involving all 27 European Union member states, sources at the
premier's office at Palazzo Chigi said on Monday.
"In relation to news that appeared in today's press concerning
the activity of the European Commission on the application of
the rule of law in Italy, there will be no inspection or visit
by European Commission officials to Italy but rather a brief
meeting at a technical level by videoconference," said the
sources.
"This is an event that has been planned for some time and that
has been taking place every year since 2020 as part of an
activity involving all 27 member states without distinction,"
the sources added.
"In this exercise, as in all other areas, the collaboration
between Italy and the European Commission unfolds in an entirely
positive and constructive climate," they said.
Earlier an EC spokesperson said "no investigation or inspection"
is underway "in Italy today, just a virtual meeting with our
counterparts as we are in the phase of preparing the annual
report on the rule of law in all 27 EU countries".
The procedure for compiling the report involves responding to a
questionnaire and then having a meeting with EC technical
experts, the spokesperson said.
On Monday La Repubblica newspaper reported that EU inspectors
would be in Italy to look into issues concerning justice, state
broadcaster Rai and a law proposal banning the publication of
the contents of preventative-detention warrants.
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