Overview
- The Conference of Presidents removed the LIBE mission from the Parliament’s calendar after a majority formed by the EPP, ECR and allied right-wing groups voted to block it.
- The planned visit, preliminarily slated for before year-end, was to examine justice, media freedom, alleged spyware use and the rights of rainbow families.
- The initiative followed LIBE working-group scrutiny linked to the Paragon case and a May hearing chaired by Sophie Wilmès, which invited but did not receive replies from ministers Matteo Piantedosi and Carlo Nordio.
- Progressive MEPs and Italian opposition figures condemned the cancellation as self-censorship that shields the Meloni government, while ECR’s Nicola Procaccini hailed it as ending politically driven missions.
- EPP support reportedly shifted under party leadership, and the move coincided with EU Rule of Law Commissioner Michael McGrath’s visit to Rome, where he reported a positive exchange on the Democratic Shield.