Italy was the worst country in Europe last year at converting European Union rules into national law, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The EC revealed that 161 infringement cases were currently open against Italy for failing to introduce internal market rules - the highest number in the now 27-member EU.
The only other country with more than 100 was Spain, with 109.
The third worst nation was France with 95 cases followed by Greece (91), Germany (80), Portugal (72) and Belgium (68).
The EC rapped Italy for having "more than three times the 'average' amount of infringement proceedings for incorrect transposition or incorrect application of Internal Market rules".
It said that almost half of all infringement cases against EU states related to the environment, transport, energy, tax and customs rules.
The internal market rules aim to guarantee the free movement of people, capital, goods and services across the EU.
"But the internal market can only achieve its full potential if legislation agreed at a European level is effectively implemented and applied by all member states," the EC said.
