“In just two days, thanks to the intervention of the Hon. Matilde Siracusano, Rome has established a direct line with Messina on many important issues that concern our territory. I will ask the coalition that Matilde be the deputy mayor of our municipal administration because we will act with government culture”. Mayoral candidate Marcello Scurria declared this during this morning’s press conference dedicated to the two-day meeting with Ministers in the capital. “For me it would be an honor – declared the undersecretary – if the coalition wants it, I am ready”.
During the meeting with journalists, some programmatic points were exposed among the many referred to the 7 ministers who met Marcello Scurria:
Work and employment disputes: the GICAP case
The GICAP issue was addressed with the Minister of Labor Marina Calderone, with particular attention to the 180 Messina families excluded from the redundancy fund, a social priority, like the many employment disputes in the city, which requires immediate responses. The Minister announced the start of checks to get workers out of the current emergency.
Sports and facilities: the Franco Scoglio Stadium towards Euro 2032
With the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi the discussion focused on the relaunch of the city’s sports facilities, on the valorisation of events, with a focus on the symbolic facilities. The “cry of pain” from the Messina football fans was welcomed. The introduction of the Franco Scoglio stadium is proposed among those indicated to host the 2032 European football championship. An image and economic driver, and an initiative that will allow us to obtain the financing needed to create the long-awaited coverage of the stadium. Minister Abodi announced that he will be in Messina on 5 May to continue the dialogue undertaken with the city.
Education and fight against school dropout
Education is also a central theme, addressed with Minister Giuseppe Valditara, with the aim of intervening on the critical issues of city schools, particularly in villages and suburbs, where situations of abandonment persist. The Minister announced his willingness to include Messina among the cities receiving a specific project to combat school dropout among young people still residing in degraded areas.
Messina in the Mediterranean and the City of the Strait
In the dialogue with the Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, the strategic role of Messina in the Mediterranean context and the opportunities for the international positioning of the city were discussed also with reference to the project of the Integrated Metropolitan City of the Strait.
Administrative efficiency and human resources
The discussion with the Minister for Public Administration Paolo Zangrillo concerned the strengthening of the municipal administrative machinery, an essential condition for making any development path effective.
EU funds and PNRR: a strategic vision
At the center of the meeting with the Minister for European Affairs and Cohesion Policies Tommaso Foti was the need for a strategic vision to intercept and make the best use of European funding, the monitoring and recovery of PNRR funds, transforming them into concrete opportunities for the territory and for the Strait Metropolitan City.
Environment and reclamation: the relaunch of the Falcata area
With the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin we discussed the reclamation and valorisation of areas with high potential in the Municipality of Messina, with the aim of combining development and sustainability. Among the topics covered are the recovery of the Falcata area, and the resources necessary for the reclamation beyond the 20 million already recovered thanks to the intervention of Matilde Siracusano.