Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently raised significant concerns regarding the rule of law in Italy, particularly following a closed-door hearing that foreshadowed the 2025 rule of law report on the country. The organization expressed its alarm over what it described as the Italian government’s “combative” attitude during this session.
HRW criticized the Italian authorities’ dismissive response to EU institutions tasked with assessing and ensuring the adherence to the rule of law across member states, emphasizing the need for constructive engagement and reforms. The group’s statement stressed that Italy should address the serious concerns on human rights through appropriate policy and legislative adjustments. The precise approach which Italy adopted was described as inconsistent with the expectations of a mature democracy within the European Union.
The hearing was organized by the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group. Notably, Italy’s Justice and Interior Ministers, Carlo Nordio and Matteo Piantedosi, chose not to attend, sending lower-level officials instead. This action was perceived as a “political boycott” by Belgian chair Sophie Wilmès and other members of the European Parliament.
The European Union’s concerns over Italy’s democratic stability have been mounting, with particular attention drawn to Italy’s use of legislative decrees and the perceived threats against press freedom. Italy’s press freedom ranking, as assessed by Reporters Without Borders, stands at 49th out of 180 countries in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, illustrating systemic issues under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration.
Particularly contentious is the proposed Public Security Bill (Bill 1236). This proposal has drawn criticism for its potential impact on freedoms of expression and protest as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner articulated concerns that the bill might undermine these critical democratic freedoms. Furthermore, some critics have labeled it “the most severe assault on protest freedoms in decades” due to its implications for environmental activists and other protest groups.