«Available to finance the first phase, but a solid project is needed»- Corriere.it

«We didn’t just discuss the inclusion» of the Messina Strait Bridge in the Ten-T, «which already existed, I know it’s very important for the Italian government, we discussed the next steps and made ourselves available. We wait for a solid project to finance the first feasibility phase and then the project will start». There EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, opens up to the co-financing of the ambitious project to connect Sicily to the Continent with a bridge which for some decades has been one of the long-veiled projects, but never implemented by numerous Italian governments. The statement by the EU commissioner comes after the meeting with the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, in Brussels. “Apart from having an intention, you need to have a preparation phase and then be ready for actual construction,” Valean stressed.

Salvini: historic passage, work to start within two years

Salvini and Valean had a confidential meeting on the eve of the Council of Ministers of EU Transport. Among other things, Valean thanked Italy for its support to the EU “Corridors of Solidarity” for Ukraine and confirmed the attention of the Commission on the issue of traffic in the Brenner Corridor and on the completion of the Turin-Lyon TAV and of the Brenner Base Tunnel.
“The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean said that the bridge over the Strait could be co-financed at least in an initial phase by the European Union: a first historic step,” said Salvini. «In the manoeuvre, we have restored the Messina Bridge company – the minister recalled – I take on the honor and the burden of giving indications, then there are engineers who work, have worked and will work on the project. I think it is a fundamental work to unite Sicily with the rest of Italy and Italy with the rest of Europe, it creates real work. If everything goes as I hope and as Italy hopes, we will start the works within two years».

“Resolved to complete the project”

For the minister (and deputy premier) the infrastructure on the Strait of Messina “is a priority for me, for the government and for millions of Italians, it is of great interest to the European Commission and many colleagues from other countries”. Because he has “the completion of that Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor” of which the bridge over the Strait represents “the missing link”. After fifty years of talks, many conferences and several million spent, we have every intention of proceeding,” Salvini underlined. The Northern League leader also added that the work would serve to “pollute less (140,000 tons of less carbon dioxide emitted)”.