Today I sent a letter to the president of the Autostrade (the motorway company) Gian Maria Gros Pietro asking him to postpone the discussions about the merger with Abertis. Following my request, the company has decided to call a meeting of the Board of Directors for 16 June and to wait for any contributions that might come in from institutions so that these can be put to the meeting of shareholders on 28 June.

My letter arose from the need to evaluate all the elements in the merger in the next few weeks so as to be able to express an opinion that is as complete as possible.

I would like to thank the Autostrade Board of Directors that has “offered to ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strade Statali = National Organisation to manage the State Roads) and to the governments concerned, Italian and Spanish, every assistance in clearing up any points that are required to create a full knowledge picture of the situation”.

The motorways are a primary good. They are fundamental to the development of our country. We cannot allow ownership to be handed over to a foreign company nor can we allow that the programme of investments in them is not carried out, as has happened for a variety of reasons, in recent years.

The tolls providing income from the motorways are Government concessions and increases in tolls need to be agreed with the Government. Thus it is not possible to talk of market competition. The State can and must take action to protect its citizens and that is what I, once more, promise to do.