The European Delegation Law is one of the main tools through which Italy ensures the periodic alignment of its legal system with that of the European Union. Introduced by Law No. 234 of 24 December 2012, it allows the Parliament to delegate to the Government the power to transpose EU directives and adapt national legislation to EU regulations through the adoption of legislative decrees.

Unlike the European Law, which contains directly applicable provisions to resolve specific cases of non-transposition or incorrect transposition of EU law, the European Delegation Law is a programmatic and systematic instrument. Each year, it defines the list of EU legislative acts to be transposed and grants the Government a mandate to implement them.

In 2024, Parliament adopted the European Delegation Law for the years 2022–2023 (Law No. 15 of 21 February 2024), in force since 10 March 2024.

The EU legal instruments referenced in this article are only those considered most relevant from the perspective of human rights protection.

Security, Justice, and Fundamental Rights

• Directive (EU) 2016/343: On strengthening certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial in criminal proceedings. Transposed with considerable delay, it is relevant to the rights of the defense and the principle of a fair trial;
• Directive (EU) 2022/2555 : Measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS 2): Concerns the protection of digital infrastructure and personal data, with important implications for digital rights and the security of citizens;
• Directive (EU) 2022/2557: On the resilience of critical entities, repealing Directive 2008/114/EC. Aims to ensure the continuity of essential services (such as healthcare, energy, transport), contributing to the protection of fundamental rights related to safety and collective well-being.

Equality, Labour, and Non-Discrimination

• Directive (EU) 2022/431: Amends Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work. Strengthens health and safety rights in the workplace;
• Directive (EU) 2023/970: Aims to enhance the enforcement of the principle of equal pay between men and women for the same work or work of equal value. Addresses gender equality and pay transparency.

Economic Rights and Financial Regulation

• Directive (EU) 2021/2167: On credit servicers and credit purchasers. Concerns the efficiency of secondary markets for non-performing loans, with effects on the protection of debtors and the functioning of the financial system;
• Directive (EU) 2022/2464: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Amends several directives and regulations on corporate sustainability reporting. Aims to ensure corporate transparency on environmental, social, and governance impacts, with significant implications for corporate social responsibility.

Environment and Ecological Transition

• Directive (EU) 2023/958: amending Directive 2003/87/EC concerning the contribution of aviation to the economy-wide emission reduction target and the implementation of a global market-based measure; and Directive (EU) 2023/959, amending Directive 2003/87/EC (establishing the EU Emissions Trading System) and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 regarding the establishment and operation of a Market Stability Reserve in the EU ETS.

Public Health and Product Safety

• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161: Supplements Directive 2001/83/EC by laying down rules on the safety features of medicinal products for human use. Relevant for public health protection and prevention of pharmaceutical counterfeiting.

Agriculture and Phytosanitary Safety

• Implementing Directive (EU) 2022/2438: amending Directive 93/49/EEC and Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU concerning harmful organisms not subject to quarantine in plant reproductive material (ornamental and fruit plants). Related to phytosanitary safety and quality in agricultural production.

Digital Security in the Financial Sector

• Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 – DORA: Establishes requirements for the digital operational resilience of banks, insurance companies, and other financial actors (ICT risk management, incident reporting, oversight of digital service providers).

Data Governance and Information Protection

Regulation (EU) 2022/868 – Data Governance Act: Regulates the secure sharing and reuse of data between public and private entities and aims to further develop the internal digital market and a human-centric, trustworthy, and secure data economy. Introduces intermediaries and mechanisms to promote data altruism.