TAR Tuscany Upholds EUI Employee’s Right to Free Access to Italy’s National Health Service

The Tuscany Regional Administrative Court (TAR Toscana) has upheld the appeal brought by a German citizen residing in Florence and employed by the European University Institute (EUI), annulling the decision by the AUSL Toscana Centro that had made the issuance of a health insurance card conditional upon paid voluntary enrolment.

According to the Court, in Italy, certain healthcare services are accessible exclusively to individuals enrolled in the National Health Service (SSN), such as access to a general practitioner and medicines distributed through hospital pharmacies. Denying free enrolment to a European Union citizen who lives and works on a stable basis in Italy by imposing a cost not required of Italian citizens results in unequal treatment that may amount to discrimination prohibited under European Union law.

The Court therefore ordered the Administration to reconsider the case and to grant free enrolment in the SSN, to ensure full access to healthcare services. Legal costs were offset between the parties due to the complexity of the legal issues involved.

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Complete text of the TAR judgement:

The case N. 00105/2026 REG.PROV.COLL.|N. 01535/2024 REG.RIC. published 16 Jan 2026

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US-IUE Statement:

This is an enormous win for US-IUE, and the affiliate represented in the case. US- IUE thanks the affiliate who personally took on the burden of representing all the EUI colleagues. We hope the case serves as a positive precedent for other regions in Italy. Great recognition goes to Avv. Velardo for guidance and ongoing efforts in representing the US IUE affiliate with outstanding professionalism and extensive legal expertise. US-IUE is also grateful to EUI management for supporting the case from the beginning.