Liberties Report 2025: Democratic Decline Deepens

Europe’s democratic backsliding worsened in 2024, with traditionally strong democracies drifting towards authoritarian tendencies. Meanwhile, the EU’s limited use of its rule of law mechanisms has had little impact in reversing this trend.

Now in its sixth edition since 2019, the 1,000-page report documents severe violations concerning justice, corruption, media freedom, checks and balances, civic space, and human rights across the EU. Compiled by Liberties in collaboration with 43 human rights organizations from 21 EU countries, it is the most comprehensive independent "shadow report" on the rule of law to date. Its findings contribute to the European Commission’s monitoring process, and participating organizations present their national insights during annual country visits.

Italy Among the "Wrecking" Countries

Based on its findings, Liberties categorizes Italy as one of the “wrecking” countries, alongside Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Slovakia—nations where governments are systematically and deliberately undermining the rule of law.

The Italy report, compiled by CILD in collaboration with A Buon Diritto, Antigone, Strali, and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa, highlights the following critical issues:

Judicial System

The Italian judicial system has experienced significant regression. Reforms debated or passed in 2024 have severely undermined the rule of law, introducing an increasingly authoritarian and punitive approach that threatens to reshape the justice system.

Anti-Corruption

Corruption remains a serious issue in Italy, with little progress in enacting lobbying legislation or establishing an operational lobbyist register. The recent repeal of the abuse of office law, along with regulatory loopholes in transparency and lobbying oversight, pose substantial risks to preventing conflicts of interest and combating corruption. Additionally, recent whistleblower protection regulations have, in some cases, been seen as a step backward.

Media Freedom and Press Rights

Media freedom is under growing pressure, with unprecedented attacks and violations—many of them instigated by public officials and members of the ruling coalition, who have shown strong intolerance toward media criticism. Press freedom in Italy has deteriorated significantly, with increasing political influence over media outlets, physical and online threats against journalists, and legal intimidation tactics. These trends have led to a major restriction of free expression and a decline in democratic standards compared to the previous year.

Institutional Balance and State of Democracy

Democratic conditions in Italy have shown no improvement compared to 2023, and the institutional balance is increasingly at risk. The government has advanced several reforms aimed at reducing parliamentary powers, raising concerns over the separation of powers, human rights protections, and the overall democratic framework. Additionally, Italy still lacks an independent national authority dedicated to human rights protection.

Civic Space and Fundamental Rights

Since Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing majority government took office in October 2022, concerns have grown over the erosion of civic space. Civil society organizations monitoring legislative developments have warned about the shrinking space for civil rights—particularly regarding the right to protest, freedom of expression and the press, and freedom of assembly. This regression has been further driven by the increasing criminalization of activists and minorities, which serves as a deterrent to silence dissent.

Human Rights and Systemic Issues

Discrimination against minorities and LGBTQIA+ individuals remains widespread in Italy due to the absence of adequate legal protections. Additionally, systemic human rights violations persist, particularly in migrant detention centers (CPRs) and prisons. Migrants are among the most affected, facing increasingly restrictive and discriminatory policies, which culminated in the outsourcing of asylum procedures to Albania.

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This content is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response  (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.