CGIL Urges European Commission to Revoke Approval for Messina Strait Bridge

Rome: Italy’s biggest union, the CGIL, announced that it has written to the European Commission, requesting a withdrawal of approval for the government’s plan to construct a bridge across the Strait of Messina, which aims to connect Sicily with the Italian mainland.

According to Ansa News Agency, the CGIL highlighted several critical issues in a letter addressed to Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall. The union cited serious technical, environmental, regulatory, and social concerns related to the project’s approval process. The CGIL argued that the IROPI report, which was recently submitted to the Commission by the Italian Council of Ministers, does not fulfill the necessary and sufficient conditions mandated by European law. As such, the union contends that the report cannot serve as a legally valid foundation for authorizing the bridge’s construction.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini recently stated that construction of the bridge over the Strait of Messina is set to commence by the end of the summer, contingent on the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) granting approval by the end of June.

Webuild CEO Pietro Salini has revealed that the construction of what will be the world’s longest suspension bridge is expected to be completed by 2032. The estimated investment for the project, which includes 40 kilometers of road and rail links, three new train stations, and a business center in Calabria, is currently 13.5 billion euros.