Italy's Court of Auditors blocks Messina bridge decision

The mega-project, costing over EUR 13 billion, remains without a registered approval decision; the government can still push it through by a Council of Ministers decision and has said it will. Rome reaffirms EUR 13.5 billion in public grants, with toll revenue meant to cover operating costs only.

After a long deliberation the Court of Auditors decided on 29 October 2025 neither to confirm the legality of the August 2025 CIPESS decision on the Strait of Messina bridge nor to register it; the points examined included financing, traffic forecasts, environmental and earthquake requirements and the EU rule on cost increases above 50%, and the reasoning is due within 30 days. The government can still force the decision through by a Council of Ministers resolution: Prime Minister Meloni rejected the ruling, Transport Minister Salvini said the government would carry on, and opposition politicians demand his resignation. According to a report of 11 November 2025 the government confirmed that EUR 13.5 billion is available as non-repayable grants; expected toll revenue of about EUR 125 million is meant to cover operation and maintenance only, according to project company Stretto di Messina. (LOK Report, 30 Oct 2025; 11 Nov 2025; second source: LaPresse, 29 Oct 2025)