The dialogue between Brussels and Rome on the Messina Strait Bridge continues “in a constructive way”: at the end of the ongoing examination, the European Commission will not adopt any formal opinion. This was reported by EU sources, providing details of the ongoing evaluation process to verify the project’s compliance with the Habitats Directive and community environmental standards.
EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall met today with some MEPs from the Pd, M5s and Avs to take stock of the analysis, which – it is reiterated – does not include deadlines. The same sources still recall that Italy was asked for some “corrections” and “adjustments” as part of a “normal discussion”. In case of violations, Brussels can always consider an infringement procedure.
The CEO: good statements from the EU Environment Commissioner
“I have carefully read the statements released by an important Italian MEP and I note a significant step forward. The opposition does not contest the usefulness of the bridge over the Strait of Messina, but asks to ‘revolutionise’ the project”. Thus the CEO of the Strait of Messina, Pietro Ciucci, at Ansa.
“I therefore have the duty to reassure, as I have done several times, the last one no later than a week ago, that the final project of the bridge has been developed and approved in full compliance with Italian and European regulations”, he added.
“The statements released just now by the EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall are very significant, reiterating that the dialogue between Rome and Brussels is ‘constructive and normal’, underlined Ciucci, reiterating that “from a technical point of view, the final project of the bridge meets the highest standards of aerodynamics-aeroelastic, seismic and geotechnical”.
“With regards to the Environmental Impact and Incidence Assessment, the entire approval process envisaged by the regulations concluded positively. The latest opinion of the VIA VAS Commission of MASE reiterated that ‘all the documentation transmitted highlights the coherence of the Compensation Measures with the need to guarantee the protection of the conservation objectives of the sites and the global coherence with the Natura 2000 network’, Ciucci continued.
“For the geological and seismic aspects, the definitive project is accompanied by over 300 geological documents resulting from new and more extensive documentation at various graphic scales, created with the aid of approximately 400 specific investigations, including geological, geotechnical and seismic surveys. Contrary to what was stated, the tower of the bridge on the Calabria side is not positioned on an active fault. All the faults present in the area of the Strait of Messina are known, registered and monitored”, he explained.
“The Strait of Messina has always confirmed the utmost attention towards the role of Anac, the suggestions and recommendations expressed”, underlined the CEO. “With regards to the hypothesis of a new tender, it is specified that, also from a technical point of view, the definitive project is perfectly valid and, as required by legislative decree 35, has been updated to the new technical regulations. Furthermore, the contracts recently signed with the General Contractor and the other contractors, in application of the provisions of the relevant law, respect the limits of Italian and European regulations”, concluded Ciucci.