The Italian government has strongly criticized the Council of Europe following allegations that its police forces engage in discriminatory practices against migrants.
Bertil Cottier, Chair of the Council of Europe’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), presented the organization’s 2025 annual report this week, highlighting concerns in several member states, including Italy.
Cottier urged Italian authorities to launch an independent investigation into claims of biased policing. He stated that so-called “racial profiling”—where individuals are targeted by police based on skin color, nationality, or religion—remains a persistent issue in the country and should be addressed.
In a swift response, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the remarks, calling them “simply shameful” and accusing Cottier of defaming the Italian police as racist.
President Sergio Mattarella also responded by inviting the head of Italy’s national police for a meeting “to reaffirm the country’s admiration and trust in its law enforcement officers.”
