European Commission officials urge Giorgia Meloni to ensure independence and funding of Public Service Media amid concerns.
The European Commission has sounded the alarm over the independence of Italy’s public service media and the government’s failure to reform the strict defamation law, which critics argue silences opposition.
In a report issued Wednesday, EU officials highlighted “persisting challenges related to the effectiveness of [the] governance and funding” of Italy’s public service media. They urged Giorgia Meloni’s government to ensure both its independence and adequate funding.
These findings are part of over 1,000 pages of reports on the rule of law in the EU’s 27 member states. This annual exercise, launched five years ago, came about due to increasing concerns over politicised courts, corruption, and pressures on journalists across the union.
EU long wary of political control over Italy’s public broadcaster
Experts have long been wary of political control over Italy’s public broadcaster, Rai. However, concerns have escalated since Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party came to power in 2022.
Věra Jourová, European Commission Vice President in charge of the rule of law, expressed the commission’s “concerns related to the independence and funding of public service media [in Italy].”
She stated, “We ask authorities to address the situation. We have been expressing the need for safeguards for years now, but with new incidents reported by stakeholders and budget cuts, this is becoming very urgent.”
Italian journalists have accused Meloni’s administration of attempting to turn Rai into “a government megaphone.” This followed a parliamentary committee’s approval for political rallies to be aired in full without journalistic mediation during the European election campaign.
In May, Rai journalists went on strike, citing “suffocating control” by the government, after accusations of censoring an anti-fascist monologue on one of its shows.
This week, Rai’s president, Marinella Soldi, announced her resignation for personal and professional reasons. The BBC announced she would be joining the BBC Commercial Board.
Her predecessor, Carlo Fuortes, resigned in May due to government pressure. He was quickly replaced by Giampaolo Rossi, a Meloni ally who has shown support for Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Viktor Orbán.
No progress over defamation law
EU authorities also criticised the lack of progress on reforming Italy’s defamation law, one of the most severe in Europe. Last week, a court ordered a journalist to pay Meloni €5,000 for mocking her height in a social media post. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom condemned the decision as “absolutely appalling,” warning it would further erode press freedom in Italy.
Jourová noted an “increase in the number of cases of legal intimidation, including from political figures,” but lamented “no progress on the reform of the defamation regime.” The EU recently agreed on a law to curb “strategic lawsuits against public participation” (SLAPPs), designed to silence investigative reporters and NGOs. However, this law only applies to cross-border cases, offering no protection for domestic defendants.
Jourová emphasised, “We strongly recommend the [EU] member states to introduce more safeguards against the abuse of the legal system against journalists and human rights defenders.”
She also dismissed claims that the commission delayed the report to curry favour with Meloni’s government ahead of Ursula von der Leyen’s successful bid for a second term as European Commission President.
Italian Government rejects EC warning
Giangiacomo Calovini, MP for far-right Brothers of Italy, said the report’s focus on the current government was unfair.
“When it comes to the negative aspects like the issue of the media with RAI or the reform to directly elect the PM — I’d like to say that the RAI issue has been there for quite some time and it cannot be linked only to Meloni’s government,” he said.
The report also focused on the justice system, warning that attacks on the country’s judiciary risked its authority and reputation.
Calovini reiterated that Italy voted to support Meloni and her proposed reforms to Italy’s constitution.
“I just want to remind everyone that almost two years ago Italians voted for Meloni, and not long ago they reconfirmed their choice, which is also about wanting the government to implement reforms,” he noted.
The full country chapter of the EC’s 2024 Rule of Law Report details the position on various reforms.
