Italy's biggest union, the CGIL, said Wednesday that it has written to the European Commission asking it to withdraw approval for the government's plan to build a bridge across the Strait of Messina to connect Sicily and the Italian mainland.
"Dear Commissioner, the CGIL would like to bring to your attention serious technical, environmental, regulatory and social critical issues connected to the approval process of the project concerning the 'Stable link between Sicily and Calabria' (Bridge over the Strait of Messina) recently transmitted to the Commission through the IROPI report approved by the Council of Ministers," read the letter to Environment Jessika Roswall "This report does not meet the necessary and sufficient conditions required by European law and, therefore, in our opinion, it cannot constitute a legally admissible basis for authorising the work".
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said last week that work to build a bridge over the Strait of Messina will begin by the end of the summer if the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) gives the all-clear by the end of June.
The world's longest suspension bridge will be completed by 2032, Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said recently.
