On 22 May, Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled that same-sex female couples who had IVF abroad can both be legally recognized as parents, partially overturning a 2004 law, which limits access to medically assisted reproduction only to heterosexual couples facing infertility. The Court said denying recognition to the non-biological mother violates constitutional principles of equality, personal identity, and the child’s right to both parents. However, the ruling, stemming from a case by a lesbian couple in Lucca, did not change Italy’s IVF restrictions, which remain limited to heterosexual couples. A separate ruling on the same day allowed gay parents to legally adopt children born via surrogacy abroad, if the child was born before a 2024 law that criminalized surrogacy. The Court ruled that the law does not apply retroactively to children born before its enactment.

Sources: Euractiv, Pagina 12, Corriere della Sera, International IDEA

The parliamentary intelligence oversight committee (Copasir) is investigating allegations that activists and investigative journalists were targeted with spyware developed by the Israel-based company Paragon, and the extent of government involvement. The inquiry aims to assess whether the surveillance complied with Italian law and whether intelligence services acted within their legal mandate. Copasir will present its findings to Parliament. Although hearings are classified, Italian media reported in March that the official overseeing intelligence agencies admitted the government had approved surveillance of certain activists as part of a “preventive investigation into illegal immigration.” The official reportedly said Mediterranea Saving Humans, which rescues migrants in the Mediterranean, was classified as a national security threat. On 5 February, the government confirmed that seven unnamed WhatsApp users were targeted but denied involvement.  

Update: A 9 June Copasir report concluded spyware was ‘lawfully’ used against Mediterranean activists, not for their human rights work but for their suspected irregular immigration activities. According to the report, Italian intelligence contracted Paragon in 2023 and 2024 but ended ties after the April 2025 media backlash. The report highlights that only a few individuals were targeted, all with a prosecutor’s approval. 

Sources: International Federation of Journalists, Council of Europe, The Guardian, Euractiv, la Repubblica (1), la Repubblica (2), il Fatto Quotidiano, Euractiv, Italian Senate, Euractiv, Ansa, Amnesty International

On 4 December, the Senate approved the Decree on Migration Flows, transferring the authority to validate asylum seekers' detention from specialized courts to the Courts of Appeal. The legislation was proposed by the ruling Brothers of Italy party followings tensions between the government and the judiciary.  These tensions developed after the migration judges ruled the return of migrants from camps in Albania to Italy, blocking Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s deal with Albania. The opposition has referred to this amendment as a retaliation against these judges. Magistrates said the change may overburden courts and affect decision quality. The new provisions introduce stricter rules on family reunification and a new list of countries considered "safe", which includes countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt and Morocco. Designating these countries as "safe" could lead to faster asylum rejections and more deportations for asylum-seekers from these countries.  

Sources: NT+ Diritto, Italian Government – Integrazione Migranti, Senato, il Fatto Quotidiano, il Dubbio, InfoMigrants, Notizie (1), Notizie (2), International IDEA 

On 16 October, the Senate passed a law extending Italy’s 2004 surrogacy ban to criminalize seeking surrogacy abroad, even in countries where it is legal. Proposed by the Brothers of Italy party, the law sets penalties of up to two years in jail and EUR 1 million in fines. While Prime Minister Meloni called the law a “rule of common sense, against the exploitation of the female body and children,” critics argue it makes surrogacy a serious universal crime, and it disproportionately targets LGBTQIA+ couples, who are already excluded from adoption, artificial insemination, and IVF. Concerns were also raised about the potential legal limbo that families and children could suffer, as well as how evidence will be collected to enforce the law and if it will apply retroactively. Italy has recently seen a surge in restrictive policies against the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly reproductive rights. 

Sources: Politico, Giurisprudenza penale, International IDEA, Global Citizenship Observatory, Verfassungsblog, The Loop