Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000986/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)
The Italian Government’s bill on developing and promoting research[1] has been met with widespread criticism, as it could introduce even more job insecurity into the academic world. Although a reform did set out to make research careers more stable (by replacing research cheques with contracts, for example)[2], bureaucratic delays have hampered the practical implementation these measures, thus threatening the effectiveness of the reforms foreseen in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)[3].
The bill has been strongly criticised by associations such as ADI[4] and trade unions such as FLC CGIL, which have reported the inconsistencies with Italy’s commitments at EU level to the Commission[5][6]. They argue that the new measures, providing for post-doc contracts and fellowships without adequate safeguards, could make the market even more insecure for researchers, in contradiction with the EU’s goals for universities to strengthen their autonomy and quality.
In response to the criticism, the Minister for Universities and Research announced that it would be suspending the parliamentary proceedings on the bill to review its content.
In view of the above:
- 1.What does the Commission make of the researchers’ and trade unions’ criticism about Bill 1240 and the reforms provided for in the NRRP?
- 2.What does it make of the worrying phenomenon of job insecurity in Italian universities[7], considering the European standards on stable academic employment and the European Charter for Researchers in particular?
- 3.Could it support Italy in the structural financing of pre-tenure and tenure-track university positions?
Submitted: 6.3.2025
- [1] Bill 1240 https://www.senato.it/leg/19/BGT/Schede/Ddliter/58531.htm
- [2] Law 79/2022 (‘PNRR-bis’).
- [3] Reform 1.1 and its practical application vis-à-vis ‘pre-tenure’ university posts, within the meaning of Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
- [4] Italian doctoral students’ association
- [5] FL CGIL report https.//www.flcgil.it/files/pdf/20250204/lettera-flc-cgil-a-commissione-europea-rischio-annullamento-obblighi-pnrr-riforma-1-1-missione-4-componente-2.pdf.
- [6] ADI report https.//dottorato.it/content/ricerca-e-ddl-1240-ladi-presenta-un-esposto-alla-commissione-europea-sul-pnrr.
- [7] In January 2025, more than 30 000 people were in temporary employment, with 7 770 researchers on fixed-term contracts and 24 077 on grants (Ministry for Universities and Research database).