Italy’s Court of Auditors has raised questions about the Cipess resolution approving the Strait of Messina Bridge project, describing it as more of a “survey” than a real assessment. In a document sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Court pointed to an alleged “lack of reasoning” and of “detailed evaluation of the findings.”
Among the issues flagged were the transmission of documents partly via links to the Stretto di Messina company’s website, the discrepancy between the €10.48 billion cost certified by KPMG and the €10.50 billion approved by Cipess, and the traffic forecasts drawn up by TPlan Consulting, deemed crucial to the project’s economic feasibility.
The Court also requested clarifications on the April 9, 2025 Cabinet resolution that declared the bridge an “infrastructure of overriding public interest,” a move intended to bypass procedural hurdles but one that has also drawn scrutiny from the European Commission.