«There is an infrastructure that does not unite Sicily and Calabria but which unites Italy with Northern Europe: the bridge over the Strait of Messina is a priority for me, for the government and for millions of Italians. And it is of great interest to the European Commission and many colleagues from other countries».
This was stated by the Minister of Infrastructure Matteo Salvini at the end of the Transport Council in Brussels.
«I stress that the current government, after 54 years of words and failed efforts, has every intention of having a stable connection between Sicily and Calabria, between Italy and Europe, for the completion of the so-called "Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor" , which with the bridge connecting Messina and Reggio, Sicily and Calabria would have the missing link,” Salvini told his European counterparts.
"We - added the minister - are investing in planning and having certain times and funding".
"In short, for the first time in years, a work is back on European tables that will be fundamental for Italy, not only to connect Sicily and Calabria, but also to pollute less air (140,000 tons of less carbon dioxide emitted) and sea», underlined the minister, pointing out that there is «attention and sharing» on the part of the EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean , and other European colleagues.
On the EU side, Commissioner Valean confirmed: «Regarding the bridge, we discussed the next steps and made ourselves available . We look forward to a solid project to finance the
first phase of feasibility and then the project will start».
(Unioneonline/lf)