BRUSSELS – A priority for Italy, a wild card for the European Commission. Bridge over the Strait The view of Messina from Brussels is immovable. Adina Valean, the outgoing transport commissioner, puts forward the EU’s view in an article Detailed explanation state of the art. In short, everything is at a standstill.“The committee – Valean explained – The final decision on the bridge is still unknown. As a result, the revised TEN-T regulatory map currently shows the project as being in the “research/conceptualization” phase”.
It is expected that Italy may review the agenda of the large transport network (actually Ten-T), but there is no update yet. But most importantly, the feasibility study is awaited. The committee is open to the possibility of helpingcovering study expenses of up to 50% of the eligible total. However, the study is not yet concluded, so it is difficult to say. “Without knowing the results of the preparation study, it is impossible to make assumptions about the potential contribution of the EU to the planned bridge-building activities,” said Wallin briefly. In any case, it will increase. So far, “only the railway section of the Messina Bridge has been eligible for EU co-financing”“.
There is a lot of work and little clarity. It will take time and the Merloni government must try to revive it. Because the inputs needed for community institutions must come from Rome. As far as is known, there is no European funding. The Cohesion Fund was not designed for the work that the current Italian executive is trying to restart. Regarding the use of the European Rural Development Fund (ERDF), “Neither the Sicily regional plan nor the Calabria regional plan foresees investments in large infrastructure such as bridges”The outgoing commissioner still recalls. In short, there was little money and no real decisions. The bridge over the strait could wait.