Art. 85 of the Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU) contains provisions allowing contracting public entities to reject foreign goods not covered by any EU international commitments from its tender procedures. In these cases, a tender submitted for the award of a supply contract may be rejected where the proportion of the products originating in third countries exceeds 50% of the total value of the products constituting the tender (Art. 85.2). Additionally, in cases of equivalent offers, the provisions provide for a preference for European tenders and tenders covered by EU's international obligations. In practice, this possibility has rarely been used.
In Italy, the Directive is transposed with Art. 137 (2) (16) of the Legislative Decree No. 50/2016 on Public Contracts.

According to Art. 49 of the Decree No. 50/2016 on Public Contracts, contracting authorities shall only apply equal treatment in public tenders to economic operators from third countries that are members of the EU, signatories to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, or other agreements with which the European Union is bound.
In order to ensure the professional competence of economic operators, Art. 83 stipulates that tenderers, if they are Italian citizens or citizens of another Member State resident in Italy, must be enrolled in the register of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicrafts or Agriculture or with the competent professional orders. Nationals of the Member States not residing in Italy are required to prove their enrolment in one of the professional or trade registers by means of a sworn declaration or in accordance with the procedures in force in the Member State in which they are established or by certifying under their own responsibility that the certificate procedure has been issued by one of the professional or trade registers established in the country in which they are resident.

It is reported that the lack of transparency is a challenge for public procurement procedures in Italy, especially for foreign bidders, including with respect to overly narrow definitions of tenders and implicit biases in favour of local vendors and state-owned enterprises. Different stakeholders report complaints regarding a lack of transparency in the access to and management of public procurement processes

It is reported that there is no sector in which foreign investment is prohibited.

In Italy, Law No. 21/2012 and subsequent implementing regulations such as Decree of the President of the Republic No. 86, Decree of the President of the Council No. 85 of March 2014, Decree of the President of the Council No. 108 of June 2014, establish the "Golden Power Rules" framework, providing a comprehensive foreign investment framework in Italy. In this context, the Italian government may impose concrete conditions on a transaction or exercise a veto, mainly based on national interests connected to strategic sectors, including:
- Critical infrastructure, whether physical or virtual, including energy, transport, water, health, communications, media, data processing or storage, aerospace, defence, electoral or financial infrastructure, and sensitive facilities, as well as land and real estate crucial for the use of such infrastructure;
- Critical technologies and dual-use items, including artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, cybersecurity, aerospace, defence, energy storage, quantum and nuclear technologies, as well as nanotechnologies and biotechnologies;
- Supply of critical inputs, including energy or raw materials;
- Access to sensitive information, including personal data, or the ability to control such information, the freedom and pluralism of the media; and
- Telecommunication sector.
- Contracts or agreements with non-EU entities relating to the supply of 5G technology infrastructure, components and services.
Additionally, Law No. 199 of November 2021 introduces a governmental review of the transfer of high technological intensity assets, mainly focusing on cybersecurity assets. Italy has used the "Golden Power Rules" to block numerous investments in areas relevant for digital trade, most recently vetoing the acquisition of an Italian semiconductor company by a Chinese group.

The Italian government implemented Law No. 21/2022, on "Emergency Measures Decree to React to the Economic and Humanitarian Effects of the Ukrainian Crisis". The decree further expanded the Italian government's “Golden Power Rules”, the power to limit or block foreign direct investments and corporate transactions regarding national strategic assets on any transactions concerning 5G communication networks and cloud technologies. In addition, any company involved in transactions concerning 5G communication networks triggering the Golden Rules have reporting obligations, such as the submission of a detailed annual report describing 5G technology implementation.

In October 2023, Law No. 136/2023 entered into effect, which converted Decree-Law No. 104/2023 (Asset Decree) into law and introduced amendments to the golden power legislation. The amendment expands the application of government "special powers" to include certain asset acquisitions in a list of critical technologies when these assets are covered by intellectual property rights and involve entities outside the European Union (EU) within the same group. The intellectual property rights mentioned include those related to AI, semiconductor production machinery, and cybersecurity (Art. 7).

Foreign entities shall act before the Italian Intellectual Property Office through a representative registered in Italy. (see Art. 201 Italian Industrial Property Law). Patent applications are subject to formal examination.

Italy is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

The Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU provides an updated framework aimed at encouraging online sales. The Directive has been implemented by the S.I. No. 484 European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013.

Ireland has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Ireland has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Ireland has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.