Gavin Jones and Angelo Amante
ROME (Reuters). Italian politicians and activists praised a law that included protection of the environment in the constitution. However, they said that more must be done to ensure that Italy reaps the benefits.
Italy is known for its natural beauty, but environmentalists claim it does not do enough to protect jewels like the Venice Lagoon and thousands of kilometres worth of Mediterranean coastline.
Parliament approved Tuesday’s constitutional law. It states that the state must protect the environment, biodiversity, and ecosystem “also in the interests of future generations”.
It stated that any private economic initiative must not be detrimental to health or the environment.
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Roberto Cingolani, Ecological Transition Minister, called the change “an important step” for Italy, as Rome seeks to raise green investments to transform its economy under the European Union’s post-coronavirus recovery fund.
Cingolani stated in a statement that “I believe this is a momentous occasion.”
It remains to see what practical effects the amendment to the constitution will have.
The constitution of Italy, which has been in force since 1948, outlines broad principles, but they are not always reflected by legislation or day-to-day policies.
Italy, for instance, made 2012 the requirement to balance its state budget part the constitution. However, it has not been able achieve a balanced budget since then.
In the same way, Article 11 of Constitution states that Italy “rejects war…as an option for resolving international disputes”. However, this does not prevent Rome from participating in a variety of armed conflicts, either directly or indirectly.
A lower court can appeal to the Constitutional Court if it believes that legislation is in violation of the constitution. This normally launches a long and slow process.
If the constitution is not respected, the head can refuse to sign off bills and ask parliament for revisions. The Constitutional Court is not able to hear appeals from private individuals or pressure groups.
Enrico Giovannini, Transport and Infrastructure Minister, called the new constitution “a strong and symbolic act”, but stated that the principles now need to be “collective and individual actions consistent” with them.
He wrote that “We need laws to protect these principles in practice,” in Avvenire, a daily newspaper. He also regretted that the public had shown “substantial indifference” to the constitutional amendment.
According to the World Wildlife Fund’s Italian branch, it expects that parliament will adapt existing legislation regarding environmental issues.
Donatella Bianchi, president of the Italian WWF, stated in a statement that “Finally, environmental protection has become a fundamental principal of the republic. Which future legislation must be inspired and past legislation adapted towards.”
(Reporting by Angelo Amante, Gavin Jones, editing done by David Gregorio & Mark Heinrich).
Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.
