The European Commission is warning Italy that it risks heavy court fines for its alleged failure to stop large-scale illegal fishing with driftnets that were banned from European waters two decades ago.
The opening of infringement procedures against Italy is expected to be announced in Brussels on Thursday after undercover European Union inspectors reported that the Italian authorities were turning a blind eye to the use of illegal driftnets in the Mediterranean by Italian fishing vessels.
Italy was condemned in 2009 by the European Court of Justice for not complying with the 1992 driftnet ban, which limits their length to 2,5 kilometres and prohibits catches of Atlantic blue-fin tuna, an endangered species, and swordfish.
Italy risks
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