Minister for University and Research Maria Cristina Messa said in a letter that a further 7.8 million euros had been allocated to compensate lettori in 2021 in addition to some 34 million euros already on the table that had not been allocated.

 

 The extra finance was made available and added to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's budget after the EU Commission in Brussels formally warned Italy it will face infringement proceedings if it does not carry out promised compensation of lettori. 

 

 Prof. Messa in her letter to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, said she hopes that the extra allocation of funds means "one will be able to carry out the completion of the reconstruction of the career of the ex lettori and the payment of the arrears in emoluments owed to them, so that one can prove to the European Commission that the Italian state has done everything required of it to obviate the censure raised, trusting therefore in a speedy shelving of the infringement proceedings started against the Italian state."

 The EU infringement proceedings followed a 25-year campaign by the Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy ALLSI, spearheaded by its Chair, Scottish lecturer David Petrie, who has tirelessly kept the issue on the agenda of British and European politicians. 

 jp