BRUSSELS – The European Commission said Friday it will take Italy to the EU Court of Justice if the Italian Government fails to pay within two months arrears in wages and pensions of British and other foreign lecturers discriminated against in Italian universities for decades.

 David Petrie, the Scottish chairman of the lecturers union, the Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy, welcomed the ultimatum from Brussels which followed the Commission last year threatening infringement proceedings against Italy over the longstanding racist discrimination violating EU principles of freedom of movement.

 "Our warm thanks to the European Commission for issuing a clear and robust statement today,” Prof Petrie said.  

 “After almost 12 years since ALLSI reported  the violation of EU law represented by the Gelmini Law 240/2010 that thwarted the effect of Italian law 63 of 2004 which according to the case law of the Court of Justice should have been implemented, the Commission has finally closed the preliminary infringement procedure formally opened in September 2021 and announced the start of legal action for failure to fulfil obligations against Italy before the Court of Justice.”

 Italy has 60 days notice through the notification of the reasoned opinion provided for by art. 258 TFEU, to adjust the remuneration, seniority and social security contributions of the foreign lecturers to the parameter of at least tenured researcher on fixed-term contracts with payment of arrears from the beginning of the employment relationship.

 “This is finally a clear stance in the face of the evasive behaviour of the Italian legislator and university administrations, which have in recent years failed to adopt the necessary measures to overcome the ongoing discrimination against foreign lecturers in Italy, which has persisted since 1980 despite numerous interventions by the European Union and the Court of Justice," said Prof. Petrie.

 There was no immediate reaction from the Italian Government to the Commission statement.

 jp