5 July 2006

Motorway concessions

Privatisations and concessions have been put into effect by the Italian State in the last 10 years at conditions that are often disadvantageous.

This is a situation that has moved resources of the State and thus of the citizens, to give advantages to finance and business people. The State has played the part of an inverted Robin Hood. It hasn’t robbed from the citizens, but in fact it has impoverished them of goods that they owned without giving them any real benefits in exchange. To this it must be added that control instruments to make the concessions work are missing.

I have arranged a meeting this afternoon with Aiscat. This is a grouping of dozens of motorway concessionaires that are controlled by ANAS on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure. The reason for the meeting is the discussion of the current situation that is balanced too far in favour of the concessionaires. This is a situation that cannot continue.

I will propose to Aiscat the institution of a framework contract with new regulations that the concessionaires must work within. For each individual concessionaire a special contract will be prepared with the support of a work group involving representatives of the concessionaires, of the Ministry, of consumer associations, of motorway users, and of taxpayers.

These latter three categories for me are essential even though they have been ignored in the past. They are necessary to make these concessions fair. This same route should obviously be followed by the Autostrade company if it wants to conclude its merger project.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Economy