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Audit Court Blocks Messina Bridge Plan, Withholds Legality Clearance

The decision halts publication in the official gazette, freezing initial works until written reasons arrive within 30 days.

Overview

  • The Corte dei Conti’s central section declined to grant the visto di legittimità and refused to register CIPESS Delibera No. 41/2025 approving the bridge’s definitive design and funding.
  • Without registration the act cannot be published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, so initial worksites and related procedures cannot start for now.
  • Under Italian law the government may seek a Council of Ministers deliberation asserting overriding public interest; the Court could then register the act with reserve and report it to Parliament.
  • Key issues flagged include multi‑year funding coherence, traffic and revenue estimates, full environmental and seismic compliance, and potential conflicts with EU rules on cost increases above 50%, with formal motivations due within 30 days.
  • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the refusal as judicial overreach and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini vowed to proceed, while opposition leaders hailed a rule‑of‑law victory and signaled possible EU legal action; contractors had already opened hiring drives.