Italy approves tougher fines for 'eco vandals'

ROME

Italy's parliament on Thursday passed a law beefing up fines for damaging historical works and other cultural sites following a slew of incidents involving climate protesters last year.

The new legislation raises fines to up to €40,000-€60,000 ($43,000-$65,150) depending on whether the perpetrator has destroyed a work or merely defaced it. Currently, the so-called “eco vandals” are punished with fines of €1,500 to €15,000.

According to the law, the Ministry of Culture can use the proceeds of these fines to repair or clean the monuments or works targeted.

"Today is a beautiful day for Italian culture, and in particular for the artistic and architectural heritage of the nation," said Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, who has been one of the main champions of the tougher penalties.

The adoption of the higher fines follows many incidents in which environmental activists have thrown washable paint or even defaced monuments and other iconic works of art such as Rome's Trevi Fountain or Florence's Palazzo Vecchio.

In another case, a British tourist defaced the walls of the Colosseum in Rome in June last year, by carving a romantic message. His action was filmed by another tourist. The case caused uproar in Italy.

"I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of most famous places in the world, a historical heritage such as the Colosseum to carve the name of his fiancee," Sangiuliano said at the time.