God first made the world and then He made the Straits of Messina to separate men from madmen.
Sicilian proverb
Ed.Note
Summary
The Italian government plans to build the world's longest suspension bridge to connect the island of Sicily with the mainland. Although the project is both technologically and -- in the long run -- economically feasible, Rome lacks the funds for this and a host of other infrastructure projects. The project instead may be a gambit to elicit more development aid from the European Union.
Analysis
The Italian Cabinet approved plans July 8 to build the world's longest suspension bridge from the island of Sicily to the European mainland.
The Italian government plans to build the world's longest suspension bridge to connect the island of Sicily with the mainland. Although the project is both technologically and -- in the long run -- economically feasible, Rome lacks the funds for this and a host of other infrastructure projects. The project instead may be a gambit to elicit more development aid from the European Union.
Analysis
The Italian Cabinet approved plans July 8 to build the world's longest suspension bridge from the island of Sicily to the European mainland.
Although the project probably will prove economically feasible in the long term, Italy cannot afford it now. Instead, with Italy set to lose nearly all of its European Union development aid after 2004, it is highly probable that the project is Rome's attempt to eke more money out of Brussels.
Ultimately, Brussels must either help foot the bill for the bridge and several other Italian development projects or risk having Italy flout directives to rein in spending. EU states are supposed to be tightening their belts under the new monetary union.
Ultimately, Brussels must either help foot the bill for the bridge and several other Italian development projects or risk having Italy flout directives to rein in spending. EU states are supposed to be tightening their belts under the new monetary union.