Italy's Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Landmark Case Against Eni

Italy's highest court is set to determine whether the country is the appropriate jurisdiction for an unprecedented lawsuit against energy company Eni. Brought by Greenpeace Italy, ReCommon, and several private citizens, the case aims to claim damages from Eni for its business strategy, which allegedly contributes to global warming.

Italy's highest court will decide whether the country is the right place to decide on an unprecedented court case against energy group Eni brought by two environmental groups, the groups said on Friday.

Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon, along with a dozen private citizens, are seeking the right to claim damages from Eni and also to force a rethink of its business strategy that they say contributes to global warming. Eni issued a statement on Thursday saying the decision on the case, launched last year and a first of its kind in Italy, would be delayed following the request by Greenpeace and ReCommon for a review on legal jurisdiction.

Eni also said in its statement on Thursday that the lawsuit was unfounded and that it had provided the court with details of its decarbonisation strategy. Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon replied in an online news conference on Friday their appeal to the Supreme Court was not to slow the trial but to speed it up, by establishing that the Italian judiciary can and should decide on such a case.

Otherwise, according to the pressure groups, a lower Rome court could have accepted an objection raised by Eni which maintains there is no judge in Italy who can decide on the matter, a decision already taken in a previous similar case. (Writing by Keith Weir and Matteo Negri; Editing by Gavin Jones and Barbara Lewis)

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