Rome, 9 January 2025 – Stretto di Messina’s Chief Executive Officer, Pietro Ciucci, has issued a statement on the ruling issued by the Court of Rome in relation to the injunctive class action brought by 104 parties against the Company. The Court ruled the action, which sought to halt all work on construction of the bridge, to be inadmissible, ordering the plaintiffs to pay all Stretto di Messina’s costs, amounting to approximately €240 thousand, in addition legal expenses.

“The ruling,” said Mr Ciucci, “is important. We were confident of the outcome right from the beginning. It was clear to us that the action was inadmissible, as the plaintiffs’ sole objective was to delay progress on the project and achievement of the upcoming milestones. The ruling has confirmed our view, with the Court finding that the reasons for the action were ‘entirely without substance and based on assumptions in the absence of any effective environmental harms’. The plaintiffs even failed to provide proof of residence in the locations where the bridge is to be built. We wish to stress that we have always sought and given priority to dialogue with the local communities involved, with the aim of identifying the best ways in which we can work together to ensure that delivery of the project creates shared value. This will continue to be our approach. I would also like to mention the 140 residents of the cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria who voluntarily intervened to oppose the class action.”