Home » Bridge over the Strait, Musumeci in Sicily: “Rome does not waste any more time, it is a priority”

Bridge over the Strait, Musumeci in Sicily: “Rome does not waste any more time, it is a priority”

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PALERMO – «I would have every right to think badly, according to Andreott’s philosophy. But since I continue to believe in loyal collaboration between the institutions, before expressing definitive judgments I want to discuss with Minister Giovannini. I have already heard it in recent days for the Ragusa-Catania motorway and soon we will see each other to talk about a stable connection on the Strait ». The anger of Governor Nello Musumeci for the sudden setback imposed by the Minister of Infrastructures, Enrico Giovannini, on the realization of the stable crossing of the Strait of Messina, unbeknownst to the institutional negotiations underway between the Region and the government national, in particular with the Minister for the South, Mara Carfagna, on the interventions in Sicily to be included in the “Recovery Plan”. However Musumeci does not lose its notorious aplomb.

«The Technical Commission – adds however categorically Musumeci on the accident – he should have concluded the works already at the end of 2020. And, therefore, time is wasted in Rome, where they have not well understood that the entire mobility system of Southern Italy revolves around fast transit between the two Sicilian-Calabrian coasts. On the procedural level, I would avoid easy suggestions: the first knot to be resolved is the dispute between the State and the person who won the work. Then there is the issue of the technical solution of the connection (bridge or tunnel). And then the necessary financing. In recent months my government has already sent a list of priority infrastructures to Rome, to be financed with the funds of the “Recovery”, with the work on the Strait at the head. And on this we will discuss, without admitting cunning and shortcuts to anyone ».

High speed is being brought everywhere, while in Sicily they want to keep ferries. What do you think?

«Rail transport in Sicily, while playing a priority role, remains one of the great shame of policies for the post-war South. For decades there has been talk for the island of electrification, doubling of tracks and adapting ordinary routes to European standards. It was all foreseen in the “Objective Law” of twenty years ago, but Rfi’s design choices have moved in a completely different direction. Only in the last three years has something been moving, under the pressure of my government and the councilor for infrastructure Falcone. The political will of various central governments has been lacking: the laws and authorization procedures make everything more complicated: criminal things! ».

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The EU calls for bridging the North-South divide. If the state does not do this, what could the region do with its own forces? And the private individuals?

«The economic and social recovery of Southern Italy is not just our need. We are the projection of the Continent in the Mediterranean: the more gifted and competitive our Regions will be, the greater the EU will play a leading role in the Afro-Asiatic basin. As for private intervention, I really hope so. We already have some interlocutions, for example, for the construction of a Port-island on our South coast and for other initiatives. The pandemic has slowed down, but has not prevented us from moving towards definition ».

You are discussing with Minister Carfagna, who among other things on Tuesday and next Wednesday will hold two days of listening on projects for the South. What do you expect?

«I know the tenacity and perseverance of Minister Carfagna. She seemed very motivated and attentive to our requests. Which are not a hundred but very few. It would be a very serious mistake to continue with parochial methods and with the pulverization of public spending, as was done with the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno: 20 billion of the “Recovery” is just enough to give our island some of the essential infrastructures, useful for overcoming the geographical and economic marginality with respect to the Continent ».

Strategy for Mobility and Internal Areas: how do you think it is possible to integrate the “Recovery” resources with the other available sources?

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«The condition of abandonment in which there are 15 thousand km of provincial roads constitutes a brake on the mobility and growth of inland areas. The previous government, with a pseudo reform, condemned the Sicilian provinces to paralysis. On the provincial roads I asked the Conte government for a billion to be given to one of its technical commissioners with powers in derogation. Nothing. I repeated the request to the Draghi government and this time I see signs of attention. We’ll see. In the meantime, the Region is intervening in over a hundred construction sites to improve the provincial road network, even though it is not our direct responsibility. Of course, inland areas also need more: intangible infrastructures, support policies against depopulation, building redevelopment. This is one of our objectives in the new programming of European funds ».

A very good Pears and now a nomination for the National High Technology Center for Hydrogen. Sicily will have the infrastructure to be an energy hub in the Mediterranean, but the authorization for production plants from renewable sources is very late. How do you plan to solve the problem?

«We have the ambition to give Sicily a leading role in the energy field. In the past, there has been a lack of sound and clear planning in the field of renewables. I have already held meetings with internal managers and external parties to remove the causes of delays and delays and I have entrusted this task to the new Energy Councilor, Daniela Baglieri, competent and motivated. He will be able to do well and soon ».

All observers attribute to Sicily a role of logistics hub in the Mediterranean. But there is a lack of a unified strategy of the ports and the Zes, blocked by the dispute raised by the Region before the Consultation. You recently declared that you have found an agreement with Minister Carfagna …

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«The Zes of the island can give an impulse to new investments. The commissioner Turano has dedicated time and passion to you in listening to the main players in the area. The commissioners will be appointed in agreement with the Region, as is normal for this to happen, and Minister Carfagna has given her willingness to do so. The strategy of large ports, as we know, is of national competence, but I have already anticipated to the new Minister of Infrastructure the need to finally address the issue, without feeding foolish jealousies.Each port has its own different vocation, which must be encouraged with targeted interventions. The only certain thing is that Sicily needs a hub port and a large rear port, if it wants to finally intercept a large part of the merchant traffic of the Mediterranean ».

First the “War Budget” of 2020 mired in bureaucracy, now the cuts to the one in question. Do you not feel disheartened, you who in founding “It will become beautiful” dreamed of changing Sicily and now appears with the weapons sprung two years before the next elections?

“Blunt weapons? We have fielded almost 4 billion euros in recent years. We are opening construction sites everywhere, accelerating public spending to the maximum. Not a single euro went back to Brussels. Other than blunt weapons! The growth of Sicily does not pass only from the budget, but from a concrete planning that sets national and European objectives and resources. Even the accounts are now back in order, after decades of cheerful accounting, as the Court of Auditors points out. Patience, we are paying for the effects of a past that no one must forget, if we do not want to repeat it. Sicily changes slowly, in step with the cultural change of the Sicilians. I know: it is a long and winding road, but the journey has already begun! ».

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