Brussels, 30/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The number of EU infringement proceedings pending against Italy is down to 123, the lowest level for a long time. At the end of October, there were 136 cases open, reports the Italian government's European Community Policies Department, after the European Commission decided last week to close 18 cases (and open three new ones). For a long time, Italy brought up the rear in the EU league table for the number of infringement proceedings lodged against it, but that position has now been taken by Greece and Belgium.
The Italian government department points out that the procedures closed last week include one on the different retirement age for men and women civil servants, one on VAT rules and another on tax advantages for a building bought to become the purchaser's main home.
Of the 123 proceedings still open, 97 are for violations of EU law and 26 for delays in transposing EU law into national legislation. The area most in question is the environment (33 cases), followed by taxation (17), healthcare (16) and transport (15). (Gp/transl.fl)