EU urges Italy to accelerate press‑freedom and judicial reforms

On 17 July 2026 the European Commission released its seventh Rule of Law Report, highlighting persistent problems in Italy. The report stresses that trial durations remain among the longest in the EU and calls for speedy reforms to the judiciary.

It recommends Italy overhaul defamation legislation, strengthen protection for journalists’ sources, and address “SLAPP” lawsuits that threaten media independence. The Commission also urges faster action on conflicts of interest, lobbying transparency, political‑financing registers, and the creation of a national human‑rights authority. Specific amendments to criminalise aggravated attacks on professional journalists were proposed, and investigations into the Paragon spyware case were noted.

Additional concerns include the financial sustainability of public broadcaster RAI and the lack of progress on several legislative proposals, prompting the EU to call for an electronic register of party and campaign funding.