Italy is the 'naughtiest' in Europe
For the ninth year running, Italy has topped the list in Europe for failing to apply rules against tax evasion and a myriad of other EU requirements.
On Tuesday, the European Commission published its annual ranking of member states by their efficiency in applying EU law and found that Italy has 99 infringement procedures open against it.
That said, the home of the EU - Belgium - doesn’t fare much better, coming in second place with 92 infringements followed by Spain with 91.
Eastern European countries are the best at towing the EU line, with Latvia having just 20 cases against it, followed by Lithuania with 22 and Estonia with 24.
Along with failing to get its citizens to pay their taxes, Italy also has an infringement case against for discriminating against cheaper tobacco products.
In 2012, there were also 438 complaints made by citizens about the country’s approach to the “environment, justice and internal market and services”, the report said.
The EC has the power to sue member states for infringements of rules at the European Court of Justice and demand financial penalties.
An EC report in September also found that Italians are the EU's worst tax-dodgers.
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On Tuesday, the European Commission published its annual ranking of member states by their efficiency in applying EU law and found that Italy has 99 infringement procedures open against it.
That said, the home of the EU - Belgium - doesn’t fare much better, coming in second place with 92 infringements followed by Spain with 91.
Eastern European countries are the best at towing the EU line, with Latvia having just 20 cases against it, followed by Lithuania with 22 and Estonia with 24.
Along with failing to get its citizens to pay their taxes, Italy also has an infringement case against for discriminating against cheaper tobacco products.
In 2012, there were also 438 complaints made by citizens about the country’s approach to the “environment, justice and internal market and services”, the report said.
The EC has the power to sue member states for infringements of rules at the European Court of Justice and demand financial penalties.
An EC report in September also found that Italians are the EU's worst tax-dodgers.
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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