The judicial battle against the construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge has begun, with the first major action coming from a collective of 104 individuals. On June 13, 2024, they filed an appeal with the Business Section of the Rome Tribunal against the company Stretto di Messina Spa. Represented by lawyers Aurora Notarianni, Giuseppe Vitarelli, Antonino De Luca (from the Messina Bar), and Maria Grazia Fedele (from the Reggio Calabria Bar), the appellants claim the project is neither feasible nor of any real strategic interest.
The appeal calls on the judiciary to ascertain the potential liability of the company and any undue harm caused by the alleged breach of diligence, fairness, and good faith following the decision to proceed with the construction activities for the bridge between Calabria and Sicily. The appellants argue that the project lacks genuine strategic value and is unfeasible from environmental, structural, and economic perspectives.
The appellants allege that Stretto di Messina is violating national and EU regulations, thus acting illegitimately. The legal team seeks an immediate halt from the Tribunal to all prejudicial actions and behaviors by Stretto di Messina that infringe upon legally protected collective and diffuse rights and interests. This includes stopping any activities aimed at the approval of the final and executive project, as well as any behavior related to the resumption of the bridge’s design activities.
Should the judiciary find the appeal legitimate, they may order Stretto di Messina to cease all negotiation activities and refrain from entering into additional costly agreements. The appellants now await the scheduling of the hearing.