Another looms over Italy infringement procedure – would be the seventy-second – by the EU. Discrimination against people is in the spotlight tax judges. In particular, working conditions, including remuneration, annual leave and social security measures. The European Commission “has recently received several complaints from tax judges”, he admits Nicholas Schmit, European Commissioner for Work and social affairs, responding in particular to a question from the Italian MEP Aldo Patriciello (FI/EPP). And, faced with complaints, “the Commission services are currently assessing the conformity of the reformed national legislation with the requirements of EU law", Schmit reports.
Infringement procedure: how much infringements cost us
And if the checks ascertain a discrepancy between Italian law and European law, the Commission could order our government to take adequate corrective measures. In essence: sending the letter of formal notice and therefore the opening of the infringement procedure. Which for Italy would be added to the 71 already charged: 57 for violation of Union law and 14 for failure to transpose directives (updated to 7 February). And obviously with a cost to state coffers. Just to get an idea: between 2012 and 2021 Italy had to pay more 800 million euro for failure to comply with EU law.
Infringement procedure, what the tax judges ask for
There are just under 3 thousand tax judges in Italy: 1.547 professional ordinary judges and 1.396 lay judges (honorary judges). Brussels' attention is focused - Schmit points out - on "respect for the principle of non-discrimination of part-time workers compared to comparable full-time workers in light of the differences in treatment between tax judges and tax magistrates under the reformed national rules ”.
