The increasing role of Italian Regions in combating discrimination: the case of Piedmont

The aim of this paper is to analyse the extent of European Union non–discrimination law implementation in Italy, with a particular focus on the role that the various regions of Italy play in combating inequality. A study of the Piedmont case will be central and will concentrate on the following aspects in particular: the process that led to the inclusion of the equality issue in the regional agenda; the policy-making process; and the terms of anti-discrimination policy. We will argue that as action against discrimination meets significant limitations at national level, regional intervention should be carefully observed in order to attain a greater understanding of its potential to fill certain gaps and overcome some of the ambiguities that have arisen during national transposition of EU anti-discrimination directives