The tones of Filippo Mancuso, vice-president of the Region and councilor for public works and soil protection, are solemn: «Calabria opens a new path that could also constitute a reference at a national level». And there is satisfaction, on the upper floors of the Citadel, following the approval by the Council of the guidelines regarding maritime state property for tourist-recreational use, that is – to put it more clearly – the “beach concessions”.
The objective is to provide the Municipalities, which are responsible for the final decisions on the need or otherwise to proceed with the assignments through public tender, with “uniform, transparent and legally founded criteria for the exercise of the functions attributed to them by the sector legislation”. A delicate matter, which in Calabria’s over 2,500 concessions generates a millionaire turnover spread over almost 800 km of coastline. And the economic and employment fate of a vast audience depends on the choice between extensions or new assignments through tender. With the aggravating circumstance of an uncertainty that has dragged on for years.
The Region wants to lead the way in a path full of pitfalls. Tensions have been brewing for years between Rome and Brussels over the infamous Bolkestein Directive which imposes public disclosure procedures. The latest provisions set the maximum deadline for tenders by 30 June 2027, with the validity of the new concessions lasting from 5 to 20 years depending on the investment plans. And the Region’s initiative fits into this scenario, strongly supported by the League represented by Mancuso.
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