Italy tops EU countries for failing to enact directives

While grappling with structural reforms, debt crisis and deepening recession over the last six months, the Italian government has neglected to transform European Union (EU) directives into local law. Italy tops EU country laggards, according to an implementation "Scoreboard" published by the European Commission (EC) on Monday, ranking first out of 27 countries for open infractions against EU directives. The EC chastised Italy for accumulating new delays particularly in the last six months. The EC found Italy's neglect is most flagrant in transport and the environment. Italy is coping with 69 open infractions against EU directives. The next poorest compliance comes from Greece, with 68 open infractions. Third worst is the seat of the EU itself, Belgium, with 64 open infractions. The EC noted that Italy has made progress in recent years, however. Compared to May 2010, Italy has reduced the number of open infractions by 25%