The I. P. R. F. T. T. has presented its petition for the defense of the fiscal and banking rights of the citizens of the Free Territory and of the international Free Port of Trieste.
The present-day Free Territory of Trieste (since 1992).
Today [April 24] the International Provisional Representative of the Free Territory of Trieste – I.P.R. F.T.T. presented its new petition to the European Parliament for the defense of the fiscal and banking rights of the citizens and of the enterprises of the Free Territory of Trieste at a press conference.
In its petition, the I.P.R. F.T.T. requests the European Union to suspend on its own motion the application of Council Directive 2011/16/EU of 15 February 2011, Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 of 14 July 2016, and Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 in the Free Territory of Trieste and in its international Free Port until the Italian Government, in its role of temporary civil administrator of the Free Territory of Trieste, concludes an agreement on the matter with the EU, in compliance with the legal order of the administered FTT, in particular the hierarchically superior provisions of international law established by the 1947 Treaty of Peace with Italy, and in compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
The request of the I.P.R. F.T.T. is grounded especially in the international obligations undertaken by the Italian Government towards the present-day Free Territory of Trieste – which borders Italy since 1947 and Slovenia since 1992 – under the relevant 1954 Memorandum of Understanding signed in London.
In particular, the Italian Government committed to exercise the representation of the administered Free Territory before the EU in compliance with the European Treaties in force (art. 355 paragraph 3 TFEU: “The provisions of the Treaties shall apply to the European territories for whose external relations a Member State is responsible”).
This obligation does not conflict with the prohibition, for the Free Territory (art. 24.4 of Annex to the Treaty of Peace with Italy) to enter economic unions of exclusive character with any State, because the EU has already concluded agreements on banking and fiscal matters with States that are not members, adapting its Directives accordingly: one example is the recent agreement with San Marino, in force since 1 January 2026.
The matter is of international relevance, because “the special regime of the Free Port of Trieste is unique, because it allows for the loading, discharge, storing, manufacturing, and selling of freight from all States free from customs duties or charges, and without discrimination” therefore, the arbitrary application of EU directives in the Free Territory of Trieste does not affect only its citizens and enterprises, rather, it interferes with the fiscal and economic rights that the Treaty of Peace with Italy grants to all States, to their enterprises, and to their freight.
I.P.R. F.T.T. – Information Service