Italian Court Blocks Sicily Bridge Plan Over EU Rule Breaches, but Government Vows to Push Forward. An Italian court ruled that the planned 3,666-metre bridge linking Sicily to mainland Italy violates EU environmental and procurement rules. The Court of Auditors said the government failed to justify overriding major concerns about coastal and marine impacts in Sicily and Calabria. The €13.5bn project—intended to become the world’s longest suspension bridge—has been debated for decades, with critics highlighting costs, environmental risks and seismic instability. Judges noted the project’s financing has shifted dramatically since a 2005 contract, now three times more expensive, potentially requiring a new tender to comply with EU rules. The Eurolink consortium, led by Italy’s Webuild with partners Sacyr and Japan’s IHI, had been provisionally selected to build the bridge. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government insists it will press on, saying the ruling leaves “ample room for clarification.” Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, for whom the bridge is a flagship project, says the government remains fully committed. If objections cannot be resolved, Meloni and Salvini may seek a cabinet override—an option that could spark legal and constitutional challenges.