Meeting on rule of law for EU report scheduled says premier's office

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 12 - Technical experts of the Italian government and the European Commission (EC) are to hold a meeting by remote on Monday on the application of the rule of law in Italy as part of a broader activity for an annual report involving all 27 European Union member states, sources at the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi said on Monday.
    "In relation to news that appeared in today's press concerning the activity of the European Commission on the application of the rule of law in Italy, there will be no inspection or visit by European Commission officials to Italy but rather a brief meeting at a technical level by videoconference," said the sources.
    "This is an event that has been planned for some time and that has been taking place every year since 2020 as part of an activity involving all 27 member states without distinction," the sources added.
    "In this exercise, as in all other areas, the collaboration between Italy and the European Commission unfolds in an entirely positive and constructive climate," they said.
    Earlier an EC spokesperson said "no investigation or inspection" is underway "in Italy today, just a virtual meeting with our counterparts as we are in the phase of preparing the annual report on the rule of law in all 27 EU countries". The procedure for compiling the report involves responding to a questionnaire and then having a meeting with EC technical experts, the spokesperson said.
    On Monday La Repubblica newspaper reported that EU inspectors would be in Italy to look into issues concerning justice, state broadcaster Rai and a law proposal banning the publication of the contents of preventative-detention warrants. (ANSA).