Controversy Erupts as Funding for Messina Strait Bridge Gets Green Light

 Yesterday, the government gave the green light for the funding of the Messina Strait Bridge.

Sicily will co-finance the construction of the bridge with 1.2 billion euros. This investment will enable Sicily to participate, with a 10 percent share, in the construction of the infrastructure that will connect the island to Calabria. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be around 12 billion euros. But where will the Region get the money? In detail, they will contribute one billion euros from the resources of the new programming of the Development and Cohesion Fund (Fsc) 2021-2027, and an additional 200 million euros from savings related to national resources for the 2014-2020 cycle that have not yet been spent.

The funds for the bridge will therefore be drawn from the Development and Cohesion Fund (Fsc) that Europe allocates for projects aimed at improving regions that lag behind economically advanced areas. In essence, it will be the Sicilians who foot the bill for the bridge.

This was immediately noted by the "Instead of the Bridge" Committee, which issued a strongly worded statement: "Sums already earmarked for real needs, particularly in Sicily and Calabria, would be diverted to allow Salvini to add straw to a propaganda that now sounds like a broken record. And all of this is being trumpeted while local administrations face closed doors to requests for the resources needed to complete truly essential transportation projects and promote sustainable territorial development. Just limiting ourselves to the city of Messina, the funds needed to complete the Tremestieri port and those required to make La Falce the most important tourist attraction in the Mediterranean. Let's say it loudly: another bluff is being organized on our backs."

Particularly critical was the mayor of Taormina and leader of "South Calls North," Cateno De Luca. According to the Sicilian politician, the Budget "will in fact only finance the Bridge, forgetting all the other promises made by the government: no flat tax at 20% for all, no minimum pension of 1,000 euros, zero aid to families to combat the high cost of living."

"The truth, however, is as follows: in the Meloni Government's Budget, not only will there be no" funding "for the Bridge, but there will be no trace of all the measures promised during the election campaign."

"Do you know where Salvini will get the money for the Bridge instead? From the Development and Cohesion Fund, which for the 2021-2027 programming amounts to 70 billion euros. He is preparing to take 20% of the resources from the fund that would be destined for all regions of Italy for investments," De Luca added.

"I wonder: how long does the President of the State-Regions Conference, Massimiliano Fedriga, intend to remain silent? It's fine that Salvini is the head of his party, but Fedriga holds an institutional role and does not represent the interests of the League. Rather, he is called upon to represent the interests of the Regions. Fedriga should immediately convene the State-Regions Conference and approve that Salvini will use the fund's resources to finance the Bridge," concluded the mayor of Taormina.