LIPARI (MESSINA) (ITALPRESS) – From 10 to 12 October the island of Lipari was the protagonist of the “General States of the marine minor islands” organized by the Minister for Civil Protection and the policies of the sea Nello Musumeci. A three-day event that has seen the involvement of numerous representatives of the various island realities, from mayors to associations of categories operating in different sectors, from tourism to transport to environmental protection. The goal was to light the spotlight on the issues that unite the different Italian smaller islands and reflect on the strategies to be adopted to mitigate negative effects and allow local communities to express all their potential.
The main problems highlighted were mainly the difficulties in the connections with the major islands and the mainland, depopulation, criticality in essential services, less development possibilities for local enterprises. In particular, the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, emphasised that “we must find ways to identify landings with standard coefficients: capacity for supply, height of the dock, protection at sea. We cannot have islands where you can only go with some type of boat because others cannot go there”. But, he said, “We must also review the ferry fleet that is the largest and most complex in the world. Today 55% of the landings of the smaller islands are unable to attract a ship with sea force 5”.
On the theme of the renewal of the ship, the shipowners were also heard. Among these the general manager of Confitarma Luca Sisto: “Do we listen to the association when we draft the new flotte decree or will we see it already written? I do not know shipowners who give up a public contribution to renew their fleet: evidently that flout decree was written wrong, but then write it better.”.
To better help local realities, the President of the Chamber’s Tax Registry Supervisory Board Maurizio Casasco suggested “an intelligent tax policy: Only in this way can we think not only of assistance in terms of generalized taxation that must be specific, but also of the attractiveness of investments and therefore of the opportunity for young people to remain or return” and also “a ZES for the smaller islands with a tax and specific legislation”.
On the other hand, the Minister for European Affairs, cohesion policies and Pnrr Tommaso Foti stressed that the smaller islands were not neglected in terms of resources with “978 projects and a commitment to expenditure of 508 million euros of which 446.5 financed by the PNRR”.
For his part, the Minister for Regional Affairs and the Autonomous Roberto Calderoli hoped that “within about fifteen days the bill on the smaller islands becomes reality. We have a little less than two years at the end of the legislature. The times to be able to do it are there and if we do not blame it will only be ours”.
At the end of the work Minister Musumeci appreciated the success of the general states, giving appointment for the spring of 2027. Numerous interventions on the three days, including those of ministers Fitto, Giuli, Nordio, Piantedosi, Schillaci, Ciriani, Santanchè and Pichetto Fratin, and the premier Giorgia Meloni (with a video message). “We hope that tomorrow’s proposals will also become action with the involvement of the oppositions that in a democracy accomplished are an essential leaven,” said Musumeci.
Photo source: IPA
(ITALPRESS).
