On July 6th, 2026, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption(GRECO) published its Compliance Report on Italy through which it assesses the level of implementation of the recommendations formulated during the Fifth Evaluation Cycle in 2024. During that process, the effectiveness of the adopted measures by the Italian authorities to prevent corruption and promote integrity within the central government (top executive functions) and the law enforcement agencies was assessed. 

In line with the previous cycle, the emerging picture from the Compliance Report is one of minimal implementation: out of nineteen recommendations only one has been implemented, whilst thirteen have been only partially implemented and five remain thoroughly unimplemented.

Starting with the top executive functions, the Report’s analysis reveals a huge gap between bureaucratic and political ranks: as it concerns pre-appointment integrity checks  and the systemic analysis of corruption risks, the recommendations were deemed entirely unimplemented. Conversely, regarding the adoption of codes of conduct and relative sanctions, as well as ethics training and counselling, recommendations have been deemed partially implemented. A similar trend can be observed regarding financial transparency and relations with interest groups. If on the one hand, the Parliamentary bill on lobbying approved in first reading at the Chamber of Deputies is welcomed, on the other hand it is critical regarding the scope of application of the Code of Conduct. This is due to the fact that ministers and political office holders keep falling out of the scope of the obligations on conflicts of interest, as well as gifts and personal advantages.

Furthermore,  neither the calls for a substantial verification of asset declarations nor the calls for greater regulation of these declarations and the relative implementation of an effective system of sanctions for cases of incompatibility among members of the executive have yet been considered. 

Turning to the section dedicated to law enforcement agencies, the picture is once again polarised. Yet, it contains the only fully positive aspect of the report, namely the clear improvement concerning the gender gap. As a matter of fact, all law enforcement agencies have registered a consistent improvement towards a balanced female representation across all roles and ranks, as well as in terms of recruitment and career progression.

Conversely, when it comes to operational integrity there is a clear divide. In fact, whilst the State Police has been found to be highly non-compliant, GRECO’s assessment of the efforts made by the Guardia di Finanza and the Carabinieri has generally been positive. Highlights include the adoption of a renewed code of conduct by the Guardia di Finanza and the ongoing work by the Carabinieri on a new code of ethics, as well as the organization of a system capable of providing ethical counselling to members of both law enforcement agencies.   

Pending a response to the Report by the Italian authorities by December 31st, 2027, GRECO reiterates the need for substantial progress to be made in order to deem the remaining eighteen recommendations of the Fifth Cycle as satisfactorily implemented.