ROME – Prof. David Petrie, Chairman of ALLSI (Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy) who teaches at the University of Verona, has written to Mr Michael Tomlinson MP and Mr Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, to ask if he could brief MPs concerned about the discrimination faced by British ‘lettori’ in Italian universities and if the damaging Gelmini law could be put on the agenda of the European Council.

 Non-Italian professors (‘lettori’) seeking work in Italian universities have faced the brunt of clear discrimination and nepotism for over 30 years, unable to achieve their desired position despite being entirely qualified for the job.

 Hence the issue has been tackled numerous times in the Italian courts; following six cases in the CJEU, The Court of Justice of the European Union, many lettori sought and obtained compensation.

 However, the Italian state responded in Dec. 2010 by passing the so-called ‘Gelmini law’ that “extinguishes” their legal claims and reinterprets the judgments of the CJUE.

 Mr Tusk recently commented on the status of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens living and working in Europe after the Brexit decision. After reading The Guardian’s article ‘Donald Tusk blames British voters for expats’ EU uncertainty,’ Prof. Petrie wrote to the President of European Council in response:

 "Dear Mr Donald Tusk,

 On 2 December 1998 The Wall Street Journal’s lead story commented on the case of foreign lecturers “lettori” working in Italian Universities as “…a clear cut test of Europe’s commitment to labor mobility, which – along with a common currency – is key to the success of the EU’s vaunted single market.”  

 "On 5 February 1999, The Irish Times wrote: “The persistent refusal of the Italian university authorities to pay foreign lecturers on the same scale as Italian lecturers, to recognise continuity of employment and their refusal to hold fair competitions for full academic posts have been found to be in breach of European law and are, without doubt, the clearest mass systematic breaches of the treaty.”

 "After 30-years litigation in Italian Courts and six favourable judgments the illegal discrimination persists. In an attempt to have our Treaty rights, as interpreted by the CJEU, implemented in Italy we are obstructed by the so-called Gelmini law that “extinguishes” our court cases, wiping away the fundamental right of citizens to have the merits of their cases heard and adjudicated in a court of law. "

 "Our warm thanks are due to UK parliamentarians and UK governments, both pre and post Brexit; The UK has been singularly assiduous in seeking fair and equal treatment for all EU lettori working in Italian Universities.   Our thanks are also due to the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions which has been supporting us since 1993. On 26 January 2011 we lodged a complaint with the European Commission, concerning Gelmini. The Commission services are investigating. "

 "30 December 2016 marks the 6th anniversary the Italian government’s passing of Gelmini."

 "This coincides with you leaving office as President of the Council, we ask if you could kindly make a gesture by ensuring that Gelmini is put on the agenda of the Council before your departure."

 Yours sincerely

 David Petrie"  

 Prof. Petrie has also written to Mr Michael Tomlinson MP regarding the subject, reminding him that The Right Honourable David Lidington MP described Italy’s behaviour as both “illegal and immoral.”

 Recently, both the Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Mr Boris Johnson have raised the issue with their Italian counterparts. The British Embassy in Rome have been very actively seeking a fair solution.

 The Chairman of ALLSI concluded his letter stating, “I would welcome the opportunity to brief MPs concerned about this issue at a suitable time in Westminster and I very much hope that you and your colleagues will respond positively.”

 sw