ROMA – The reference is technical, located at the bottom of the document sent to Brussels. But the political objective is clear for the right in government: take time on the tendering of beach concessions. Four months, to get around the European elections in June and thus preserve the consent of the owners of the establishments. In the meantime go ahead with the extensions, even until the end of 2025.
Seaside resorts, the buying and selling of the establishments restarts. Requests up to 700 thousand euros by Rosaria Amato 17 January 2024
Nevertheless the letter which responds to the reasoned opinion of the European Commission, the second step of the infringement procedure pending over Italy for the failed tenders, hopes for “constant and transparent dialogue” to arrive at a reorganization law in line with community legislation. Only, however, at the conclusion of some steps that further lengthen the time, postponing once again the application of the Bolkestein Directive.
For this reason, it is expected “within four months from the date of sending this note to conclude an initial discussion” with local authorities “regarding the determination of the scarcity of resources and the related reorganization guidelines for the sector”.
Seaside resorts, an avalanche of appeals is arriving against Municipalities and Regions that are extending the concessions to 2024 by Antonio Fraschilla 05 January 2024
Here is the request for supplementary officials to update the mapping of the beaches, which the Commission has contested on several points, and thus determine the scarcity of the resource, the element that divides the Italian government from the EU: for Rome this scarcity does not exist and so no Bolkestein.
But what happens in the meantime? “In a context that is still evolving – reads another passage of the letter – it is therefore believed that the conditions exist for the granting bodies to exercise the discretionary assessment connected to the so-called technical extension”.
Beaches, mayors against the government: “Political confusion, now certainties” by Rosaria Amato, Fabrizio Berté Valentina Evelli Giuliano Foschini Giovanni Turi 04 January 2024
In summary: the data must be integrated, including lakes and rivers in the mapping, to determine the criteria for defining the scarcity of the resource.
In the meantime, continue with the extensions. Which – here is the technical reference – hook up to Annual Competition Act 2021then modified by Milleproroghe decree launched last year.
Based on these provisions, the current concessions are locked down until December 31st of this year. But “in the presence of objective reasons”, i.e. pending disputes or difficulties with the tenders, which prevent the conclusion of the tenders within the established deadlines, the validity of the concessions can be extended until 31 December 2025.
The ball passes to Europe. Community sources open up the possibility of granting Italy the requested four months. This would lead to May 17th. At that point, the European vote will be just three weeks away. Ursula von der Leyen seeks an encore leadership of the Commission. “Sending Italy to the Court of Justice would be a gamble”, add some majority sources. After all, opening a conflict is not in anyone’s interest.