By Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) -The Italian Court of Auditors on Wednesday discussed a landmark government project for a bridge connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland, after raising doubts
Italy's Court Blocks Sicily Bridge Project, Government Plans Appeal
Court Ruling and Government Response
By Angelo Amante
Details of the Court's Decision
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's Court of Auditors on Wednesday refused to authorise a landmark government plan to build a bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, casting serious doubt on the viability of the 13.5 billion euro ($15.7 billion) project.
Political Reactions and Future Plans
Deputy Italian Prime Minister Salvini denounced the ruling as a "serious blow" to the country, calling it a political decision rather than a technical one, but vowed to pursue all possible avenues to get the decades-old plan off the ground.
The court announced its verdict in a brief statement after a hearing earlier in the day, adding that it would publish its reasoning within 30 days.
While the rejection need not definitively halt the project, it casts a long shadow over its future. Salvini could seek a cabinet vote to override the court's objections but such a move could leave the venture open to legal action.
The 3.7-kilometre (2.3-mile) suspension bridge between Messina and Calabria was dropped in 2012 due to its high costs, but Salvini has championed the project since the conservative bloc led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took power in 2022, saying it was vital for Italy's underdeveloped south.
The contract for the Strait of Messina bridge project had been awarded to the Eurolink consortium following an international tender. Led by Italy's Webuild, it includes Spanish group Sacyr and Japan's IHI.
The Court earlier raised doubts about the overall costs of the bridge and said the government did not include a mandatory technical assessment from a consulting body.
Judges also questioned whether the project complied with EU competition rules, referring to sharp cost increases from the original 3.8 billion-euro tender awarded in 2005 to Webuild, known at the time as Salini Impregilo.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)
(Reporting by Angelo AmanteEditing by Keith Weir and Crispian Balmer)
