BRUSSELS - The EU Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Italy because it does not fully apply the EU directive on mortgage credit, in particular the provisions on freedom of establishment, free movement and supervision of the services of credit intermediaries.
The aim of the directive, Brussels recalls, is to increase consumer protection in the mortgage sector and promote competition
, inter alia, by opening national markets to intermediaries.
"More competition should benefit consumers by allowing for more choice at lower costs," says Brussels.
The Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Italy for failing to comply with the Late Payment Directive with "negative effects on companies as they reduce their liquidity, prevent their growth and hinder their resilience and their ability to become greener and more digital ". The Late Payment Directive requires public authorities to pay bills within 30 days (60 days in the case of public hospitals).
The Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Italy, as national legislation on legal costs excludes the rental of wiretapping equipment in criminal investigations from the scope of the directive.
According to the Commission, "the exclusion of such transactions" prevents rental companies "from exercising the rights provided for by the directive itself". Italy has 2 months to reply to the letter and to take the necessary measures, after which the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.