Italy will have to bring back the crime of abuse of office after the European Parliament on Thursday approved an anti-corruption directive that establishes the types of corruption cases that must be classified as felonies by EU countries, rapporteur Raquel Garcia Hermida said.

The list of offences includes a provision on abuse of office, defined as the “unlawful exercise of public functions,” and calls on Member States to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that “certain serious violations of the law resulting from the performance or omission of an act by a public official constitute a criminal offence”.

Garcia Hermida commented that: “the mandate is very clear on abuse of office.

“Italy will be required to reintroduce at least two of the most serious offences related to abuse of office,” she said.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented that: “looking at the votes within the EU Council, Italy voted in favour of these rules, so I hope the directive will be implemented”.

A bill presented by Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government abolishing the crime of abuse of office was approved in 2024.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said the crime was too vague and discouraged local politicians and civil servants from signing off on projects due to fears they will end up under investigation for it, thus causing “economic damage that affects citizens”.