Italy’s outgoing government approved on Thursday (4 August) a decree to reform the country’s notoriously slow criminal justice system, according to government officials, paving the way for the finalisation of a broader reform needed to keep European Union funds flowing.
Delays in court cases are seen as deterring foreign investment, undermining confidence in the legal system and a major drag on growth in the eurozone’s third largest economy.
The European Commission made part of its €200 billion of pandemic recovery funds for Italy conditional on cutting the length of trials by 25% over five years in criminal cases and by 40% in civil ones.
The reform, probably the most controversial of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s 18-month premiership, proposes to scrap trials without delivering a verdict if they go on beyond a set time.
Critics say it will allow thousands of criminals to escape justice, but Justice Minister Marta Cartabia points out the reform also provides for the hiring of 15,000 clerks to lighten judges’ workloads, simplifies some procedures and encourages plea bargaining to prevent cases going to court.
The decrees to reform the criminal and civil justice systems will go to parliamentary committees which can propose possible amendments. The reform must enter into force by the end of this year in order to release European funds.
The outgoing Draghi government has made justice reform part of the business it will pursue until the appointment of a new cabinet after the 25 September elections.
Italians set to go to the polls on 25 September
Early elections in Italy are scheduled on 25 September, after President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament on Thursday following Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s report on Wednesday’s vote in the Senate and resignation.
The president has decided the government will continue to manage ordinary …
Source: euractiv.com
