La retroattività in mitius delle norme sulle sanzioni amministrative

The aim of this essay is to find an answer to the question whether the general criminal law principle of retroactivity of the more lenient law can be applied also with reference to the Italian administrative sanction system. In particular, we will analyze if the administrative case law and the scholar theories which tend to deny the application of that principle comply with the evolved interpretation of article 7 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, made by the European Court of Human Rights starting from the decision rendered in the Scoppola’s case.