Consequences of Italy’s 2012 judicial reform

Question for written answer  E-000955/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Angelo Ciocca (ID)

Enabling Law No 148 of 14 September 2011 established the basic criteria for the reorganisation of judicial offices in Italy. This was then followed in 2012 by a judicial reform under which small courts and small public prosecutor’s offices were closed and amalgamated with larger courts and their offices. It is now becoming clear, with the passing of the years, that this was an extremely detrimental decision that has jeopardised not just the security, economy and culture of many regions but also observance of one of the fundamental principles of the European Union.

Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union provides that every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union and that decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen. In closing local courts, Italy has de facto infringed the proximity principle, in addition to helping prolong still further the length of time before courts pass judgment.

In view of the above, can the Commission say what action it will take in order to call for a swift resolution to this problem?