Italy the ignominious

The enforcement proceedings for discrimination against foreign-language lecturers in Italy pit the European Commission, as guardian of the European Union Treaty, against a protectionist and intransigent member state ("Discrimination decree falls short", THES , January 16). For 15 years, Italy has evaded clear-cut rulings of the Court of Justice. Flaws in Italy's recent decree law means this evasion continues.

No member state has yet been fined for discrimination. Italy, a founder member, risks this ignominious distinction.

Henry Rodgers
La Sapienza University, Rome