Skip to content
REPORT (2026/2077(IMM))

On the request for the waiver of the immunity of Matteo Ricci

A-10-2026-0255

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Pascale Piera

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 6 Oct 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The Committee on Legal Affairs proposes that Parliament waive the immunity of Matteo Ricci, a Member elected in Italy, so that Italian authorities can use correspondence seized in criminal proceedings against him. The request comes from the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Pesaro and concerns alleged offences committed while Ricci was Mayor of Pesaro, before he became a Member. The committee finds that the alleged offences are not opinions or votes cast in the performance of his duties, and that no intention to damage his political activity can be assumed.

Committee position. The Committee on Legal Affairs proposes that Parliament waive the immunity of Matteo Ricci, finding that the alleged offences are not covered by parliamentary immunity and that no intention to damage his political activity can be assumed.

Key points

  1. Parliament decides to waive the immunity of Matteo Ricci.
  2. The request was forwarded on 8 June 2026 by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Pesaro, Italy, in ongoing criminal proceedings.
  3. The alleged offences relate to the period from 30 May 2019 to 18 June 2024, when Ricci was Mayor of the municipality of Pesaro.
  4. The proceedings concern alleged corruption and acts contrary to official duties under Articles 319, 320 and 321 of the Italian Criminal Code, committed under Article 314, and involve 26 other persons.
  5. The waiver is sought to allow the seizure, reading and possible use of correspondence between Ricci and one of his collaborators, found on his telephone.
  6. Immunity protects Parliament and its Members from legal proceedings over activities that cannot be separated from parliamentary duties.
  7. Parliamentary immunity is not a Member's personal privilege but a guarantee of the independence of Parliament and its Members.
  8. Ricci was elected in June 2024 and was not a Member at the time of the alleged offences.
  9. Article 8 of Protocol No 7 protects Members from proceedings over opinions expressed or votes cast in the performance of their duties.
  10. The alleged offences are not an opinion expressed or a vote cast by Ricci in the performance of his duties.
  11. Article 9 of Protocol No 7 gives Members, in their own state, the immunities accorded to members of its parliament; Article 68 of the Italian Constitution requires authorisation for searches, arrests, interception of conversations or seizure of correspondence.
  12. No intention to damage Ricci's political activity as a Member, and thus Parliament's independence, can be assumed.

Who is affected

  • Matteo Ricci, Member of the European Parliament elected in Italy: his immunity is waived.
  • The competent authority of Italy: receives the decision immediately.

Figures and deadlines

  • 8 June 2026: date the request for waiver of immunity was forwarded.
  • 15 June 2026: date the request was announced in plenary.
  • 30 May 2019 to 18 June 2024: period of the alleged offences.
  • 26 other persons: number involved in the criminal proceedings besides Matteo Ricci.

Legal basis: Articles 8 and 9 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union, and Article 6(2) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.