Continuity, standoff Region-EU. Moro: "Let's go ahead with the negotiated procedure"
Brussels asks for a new tender, but Villa Devoto goes straight. Minister Salvini: "We support the line of Villa Devoto"
(Handle)
Per restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
«The European Union is asking for a new tender for the assignment of routes in territorial continuity on Alghero but the Region is going ahead with the negotiated procedure already started, in agreement with the Ministry of Transport and with ENAC ». This was stated by the regional councilor for transport, Antonio Moro , speaking this morning during the session of the regional council.
Moro underlines that «according to Flor Diaz Pulido, director general of Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, “the urgency of direct flights from Alghero to Rome and Milan Linate given by the Italian authorities as justification for recourse to the negotiated procedure is debatable, given account of existing flights from Alghero to mainland Italy and flights to Rome from other Sardinian airports”. Therefore, explains the councilor, «the Directorate General for Transport of Europe is calling for a new tender, with new terms, other compensation amounts and with all the connected procedures which, in fact, would decree the end of territorial continuity for half of Sardinia. In fact, even if record times were to be achieved, in Alghero, before next June, in the case of a new tender, no plane with public service obligations would fly».
The objective of the Region, on the other hand, is to "avoid the risk that from next February 17 the North West of Sardinia will remain disconnected from the Continent and the Alghero airport will be without continuous flights to Rome and Milan".
In Alghero, the representative of the Giunta Solinas recalled, no carrier has presented an offer, in front of a total of 14 million in compensation to fly to Fiumicino and Linate, from 17 February 2023 to 26 October 2024. One eventuality, that of the absence of offers , which is not governed by Community regulation number 1008 of 2008 and not even considered in the interpretative guidelines.
«The question in Sardinia – underlined the commissioner Moro – even before being a technical and juridical question, is a purely political question. Represented by the imperative need to guarantee the primary right to mobility and connectivity, through paid air transport services that ensure adequate, regular and continuous scheduled flights. This is the underlying motivation that prompted the Sardinian Region, the Ministry of Transport and Enac to identify, in the so-called negotiated procedure - provided for by Italian law and in compliance with the Community principles which supervise public awarding of services - the useful path to ensure continuity of connections also in Alghero starting from next February 17th».
THE PROCEDURE - The negotiated procedure will end on 31 January, is open to all European carriers and is considered an act inextricably linked to the public tenders that have been deserted, which therefore arises as a natural administrative continuation, consequent and responsive to the principles of publicity, transparency , free competition and non-discrimination.
«The Directorate-General for Transport of the European Commission – he continues – essentially states that Alghero is already connected with mainland Italy and in any case other Sardinian airports connect it with Rome. Such claims do not correspond to reality. In fact, no flights are currently guaranteed in the Rome airport area, while in the Milan area there is a free market offer that does not even partially meet the criteria of continuity, regularity, pricing and minimum capacity. As for the reference to the other airports, it should be remembered that the Sardinian airports cannot be considered alternatives to each other, as they are located at a distance of more than one hundred kilometers from each other and with a journey of more than 60 minutes by car, bus or train". .
"COMMON LINE" - "In any case, the political point of the question remains central - the Transport councilor said -: to give a timely and effective, correct and transparent response to the needs of the citizens of Sardinia who, due to a serious lack of Community regulation cannot see half of the island deprived of the right to territorial continuity. I find it encouraging that this is the position not only of the Sardinian Region but is also expressed clearly and formally by the Ministry of Transport and ENAC which in the note sharing the path of the negotiated procedure made explicit reference to the principle of insularity. And it is also for this reason that, in agreement with the ministry and with the civil aviation agency, the Region wants to go ahead with the negotiated procedure, to avoid the isolation of the North West and restore to all Sardinians the right to mobility".
SALVINI – The Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini also intervened on the matter: "The right to mobility is constitutionally guaranteed and, as such, must be protected", explains a note. Again: «MIT is closely following the issue and maintains, through our Representation in Brussels, an interlocution with the European Commission to protect the territorial continuity of Alghero. And the ministry itself "believes that the reasons for which the Region of Sardinia intends to go ahead with the negotiated procedure for the assignment of the Alghero/Rome/Milan connection service are valid and consistent with the general principles and the dictates of the European legislation in matter".
"Sardinia - continues Salvini - has in fact set up a negotiated procedure, applying the general principles of the EU and of national legislation on the subject of service contracts and concessions, based on principles of non-discrimination, publicity and transparency, in line with the rationale of the legislation governing the Public Service Obligations».
