ROME, 21.11.24 – ENI has filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against ReCommon’s Program Director Antonio Tricarico. The case stems from an interview given to Rai’s leading investigative show Report last May, in which Tricarico highlighted the overlapping timing of the award to Eni of the mining license of the giant gas field of Zohr, off the Egyptian coast, and the tragic kidnapping and murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni. Tricarico’s objective consideration was further substantiated in a second Report broadcast aired on November 17, featuring ENI’s confidential documents that corroborate Tricarico’s claims.

Last October, ENI also sued ReCommon and Greenpeace Italia, accusing them of conducting a “hate campaign” against the company. This appears to be a retaliatory action against the organizations for their Just Cause lawsuit against ENI—a climate litigation case now pending before the Italian United Civil Sections of the Court of Cassation.

In recent years, ENI has become a serial SLAPP offender targeting journalists, activists, whistleblowers, and court witnesses who criticize its activities. The systematic recourse to legal harassment in response to dissenting voices reveals a troubling intolerance towards criticism—especially when the plaintiff is a partially state-owned company like ENI. As a matter of public interest, Italian citizens have the right to be adequately informed, including about ENI’s activities in Egypt.

The CASE Italia working group expresses its solidarity with Antonio Tricarico and ReCommon and strongly opposes the systematic use of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) to silence critics.

In Italy, we are witnessing a growing number of companies, politicians, and high-profile public figures resorting to SLAPPs to silence criticism on matters of public interest. SLAPPs represent a serious threat to freedom of expression, including in our country. Despite the recently adopted European Directive 2024/1069 , also known as the Daphne Law, Italy’s current legislation remains inadequate in addressing SLAPPs. 

 

Signed

Amnesty International Italia 

Articolo 21

A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione

Campagna Nazionale Per Il Clima Fuori dal Fossile

Civic Initiatives (Serbia)

Coalition For Women In Journalism

European Environmental Bureau

FIBGAR

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Foundation Atelier for Community Transformation- ACT, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Greenpeace Italia 

In Difesa Di

Pro Publico 

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Rete No Bavaglio 

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

The Good Lobby Italia