The European Union has launched a new package of infringements against Italy, with six new procedures involving different sectors. Half are related to the environment.
Among these, in fact, appear violations relating to the Water Framework Directive, the failure to review the National Air Quality Plan and the reporting obligations on environmental noise.
A particularly sensitive issue for Italy, which in the past has already had to face fines of over 800 million euros due to disputes with Brussels.
Here are in detail the main issues raised by the European Commission and the economic impact of these infringements.
1. Water Framework Directive: concessions without periodic review
The European Commission has challenged Italy for failing to comply with the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), a pillar of environmental legislation that requires member states to ensure the protection and improvement of water quality. In particular, Italy has not implemented an adequate system for registering permits for the withdrawal and storage of water resources and has not provided for a periodic review of the concessions, which can last up to 30 or 40 years.
According to Brussels, Italian legislation does not ensure that programs of measures, which should be implemented to ensure the good ecological and chemical status of rivers, lakes and groundwater, are systematically updated and monitored. The absence of a periodic review mechanism for concessions prevents adequate and responsible management of water resources.
Rome has two months to respond and take the required corrective measures. If it does not provide a satisfactory answer, the procedure may proceed, with the risk of a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
2. Air quality: national plan not updated
The second front concerns the failure to review the National Air Pollution Control Plan, as required by the NEC Directive (EU 2016/2284). The Commission accuses Italy of not updating this plan since 2016, despite the directive requiring a review every four years. The plan is key to reducing emissions of key air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter and ammonia, and must outline measures to reduce pollution in critical sectors such as transport, industry, agriculture and domestic heating.
This infraction is particularly relevant for Italy, which has one of the areas with the worst air quality in Europe: the Po Valley. The delay in updating the plan exacerbates an already critical situation, with negative repercussions on public health and the environment. Also in this case, Rome has two months to respond, under penalty of worsening the procedure.
3. Communication obligations and environmental noise
The third procedure concerns the failure to implement Directive (EU) 2024/2839, which modifies and simplifies communication obligations in various areas, including environmental noise emission. In particular, the directive concerns the noise produced by machines and equipment intended to operate outdoors, as required by regulation 2000/14/EC. The aim of the directive is to reduce administrative burdens without lowering levels of environmental protection.
Italy, according to the Commission, has not notified the national measures transposing the directive or has done so only partially. Rome now has two months to correct this violation. Otherwise, the infringement may evolve into a more serious phase of the dispute.
The new infringement procedures join a series of others involving our country, with a significant economic impact. According to data updated to December 2025, Italy is involved in 69 infringement procedures, of which 24 in the environmental field. In recent years, these infringements have already resulted in the payment of over 800 million euros in fines, especially for issues related to waste management and urban wastewater treatment.
Failure to implement European regulations, therefore, not only has an impact on the environment and citizens’ health, but also on public finances, with the risk of having to bear further costs resulting from new infringements.
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