Italy must improve conflict of interest rules - GRECO

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 28 - Italy needs to improve legislation and adopt "clear and exhaustive" guidelines to prevent and resolve potential conflicts of interest of "people with top executive functions" (PTEFs), the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe's anti-corruption body, said in its latest report on the country published on Wednesday.
    The report noted that current legislation doesn't cover and cannot cover all situations in which the interests of officials with top executive functions could influence, or appear to influence, the objective and impartial exercise of official functions.
    Top officials, it said, include the president of the council of ministers, ministers, undersecretaries of state, extraordinary and special commissioners, members of the offices of direct collaboration, as well as members of the State police, the Carabinieri and finance police.
    In its evaluation report, GRECO noted that Italy has a sizeable legal framework dealing with the prevention and the fight against corruption, but that it is complicated to navigate, to the detriment of its efficiency.
    "This is especially apparent in the regulation of conflicts of interest and financial disclosure, where different rules apply but do not cover all PTEFs adequately", the report noted.
    (ANSA).