The Italian Court of Auditors denies the legitimacy approval for the CIPESS resolution on the Strait of Messina Bridge.
The Government convenes an emergency meeting. What happens next, and what are the possible scenarios for the infrastructure and Southern Italy?

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Today, the Italian Court of Auditors (Corte dei Conti) decided not to grant the legitimacy approval (visto di legittimità) to Resolution No. 41/2025 of the CIPESS concerning the Strait of Messina Bridge project. The resolution included the allocation of FSC funds and the approval of the final design for the fixed connection between Sicily and Calabria.
According to the Court’s statement, the decision is linked to several legal and procedural issues: financial coverage, traffic forecasts, environmental compliance, and adherence to EU regulations, as well as the institutional role of the CIPESS itself.
The Court clarified that this is not an evaluation of the project’s merits, but strictly a ruling on the legality of the act.

The Government’s Emergency Meeting

On the morning following the ruling, an urgent meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi, chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in response to the Court’s decision.
At the end of the meeting, the Government stated that it will wait for the full reasoning of the Court and then respond to each observation in detail, using all instruments provided by law.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini announced that the start of construction will be postponed from November to January–February, while reaffirming the Government’s determination to move the project forward.

Immediate Implications

– The project timeline slows down: the resolution is not registered and cannot be executed without the legitimacy approval.
– The Government may still proceed by asking the Council of Ministers to issue a resolution recognizing an overriding public interest, which would compel the Court to register the act.
– A strong political and institutional debate has reignited: Prime Minister Meloni described the Court’s decision as an “intolerable interference” in the Government’s sphere of responsibility.

Impact on Sicily, Calabria, and the Country

For Sicily and Calabria, the Bridge represents an infrastructure breakthrough awaited for decades. This procedural halt now requires an assessment of its impact on regional development plans, investments, and stakeholder confidence.
At the national level, the case brings back to the forefront key issues such as governance of major public works, compliance with administrative procedures, transparency of funding, and environmental compatibility.

Possible Scenarios for the Project’s Next Steps

– The Government must respond to the Court’s remarks with additional documentation and financial clarifications.
– The Council of Ministers may be convened to deliberate on an exceptional measure or to request forced registration of the act.
– Until the official reasoning is published, the project remains in administrative limbo, despite the Government’s political commitment.
– The postponement of construction (from November to February) implies a revision of the entire project schedule.

Final Remarks

The unexpected decision by the Court of Auditors demonstrates that even large-scale infrastructure projects must fully comply with principles of legality, accountability, and transparency.
For a symbolic project like the Strait of Messina Bridge, the Government shows no sign of retreat: a complex phase now begins—technical, political, and institutional all at once.

Today, the Court of Auditors decided not to grant legitimacy approval to CIPESS Resolution No. 41/2025 regarding the Strait of Messina Bridge, which included the allocation of FSC funds and the approval of the project’s final design for the permanent link between Sicily and Calabria.

The reasons, as outlined in the statement, relate to legal and procedural matters: financial coverage, traffic estimates, environmental and EU compliance, and procedural aspects concerning the CIPESS’s competence.
The Court emphasized that this is not a judgment on the merits of the project but only a question of legality.
The full motivations will be made public within 30 days.