According to the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Italy, along with Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia, have been contributing to a “democratic race to the bottom” by “deliberate and systemic efforts to weaken the rule of law in all areas”.
The Civil Liberties Union for Europe, a lobbying organisation known as ‘Liberties’, is an NGO that has claimed to safeguard the human rights of everyone in the European Union and is bankrolled by the US billionaire philanthropist and left-wing political activist George Soros.
Among its financial supporters is the European Commission who have given grants from the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV).
According to the European financial transparency register, Liberties received €1.33m from the EU in 2023, the latest available date.
In the more than a 1,000-page report, released on March 17 and made with the help of numerous European NGO’s, Italy and the other countries were said to use “widespread smear campaigns and multiple laws, policies and funding restrictions that seriously undermine the rule of law”.
The report put them in the category termed “dismantlers”.
To some observers, the report’s accusations appeared to be politically selective.
For example, Liberties mentioned an alleged corruption case in Hungary regarding Chinese respirators during the Covid-19 pandemic but did not mention a similar case in Belgium involving €15 million worth of mouth masks.
Nor did the report mention controversial mask deals in Germany, where the country’s then-health minister Jens Spahn purchased masks from a company linked to his husband’s employer and another deal that came in at well above market prices.
Germany’s government allegedly paid NGO’s to protest in February this year against the opposition, according to an investigation by news outlet NIUS, was not mentioned either.
In France, Liberties warned of “the concentration of media owners”, while it never mentioned the grip of a select few media players over Belgian media who own 90 per cent of Dutch dailies.
Regarding the forced closure of the popular French TV channel C8, Liberties did not criticise the decision and appeared to side with the French regulator.
Liberties denounced alleged political manipulation of the judiciary, interference in the media, repression of protests and a weak approach to corruption in that group.
The report said Italy was one of the countries “intentionally” undermining the rule of law in almost all aspects of its institutions.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government was criticised for its proposed justice reform aimed at enhancing efficiency and impartiality in Italy’s legal system.
The reform sought to separate the career paths of judges and prosecutors, a move intended to streamline trials, reduce delays and ensure a more independent judiciary.
Supporters argued it would modernise one of Europe’s most archaic court systems, making justice more accessible and fair for citizens while strengthening the rule of law.
Opponents, though, have claimed the proposals were an attack on established judges, especially those perceived as left-leaning, who conservatives have labelled the “red robe” magistrates.
A top Italian magistrate has faced criticism after sending an email where he described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as “dangerous” due to her political beliefs. https://t.co/73UXsKCs5H
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 23, 2024
Liberties further claimed the Meloni government was highly intolerant toward media criticism, representing, according to the group, an emblematic example of a “democratic recession” that was allegedly affecting all Europe.
That was described in the report as a “symptom of a broader democratic recession”.
Meloni did successfully sue a number of people for publicly insulting her. They included journalist Giulia Cortese and left-wing Italian writer and journalist Roberto Saviano, who called her “a bastard” for her proposed immigration policies.
Under Italian law, some defamation cases can be criminal and carry a custodial sentence of up to three years in jail although that legislation long predates Meloni’s rise to power.
Even worse than the “dismantlers” were Hungary and Slovakia, according to the report, “whose governments intentionally dismantle rule of law safeguards”.
“Hungary belongs in a category all on its own, where democratic standards have degraded to such a degree that it would not gain access to the EU today,” the NGO claimed.
“The Hungarian Government continues to implement laws challenged by the European Commission, engages in multiple campaigns against human rights organisations and undermines the EU from within.”
Liberties can be viewed as a lobbying organisation as it is registered in the EU Transparency Register.
The NGO concluded that “the exigency for strong EU-level leadership is greater than ever” but that “Eurosceptic and ultra-nationalist far-right parties threaten co-operation”.
On its website, it admits to being mainly supported by Soros’ donors whose mission and visions align with Liberties’.
This included Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE), Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation and the Oak Foundation.
On social media, the Brothers of Italy Party stressed that the report was funded by Soros. “No further explanation is needed,” tit added.
Fanpage lancia l'allarme: l'Italia sarebbe tra i Paesi che stanno minando la democrazia in Europa.
La fonte? Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), ONG finanziata da George Soros. Non servono altre spiegazioni. pic.twitter.com/MDBnZzrS5k
— Fratelli d'Italia 🇮🇹 (@FratellidItalia) March 17, 2025
