Transport

Pnrr, Foti: 'A measure for transport on the islands coming soon'

In front of the Insularity Commission, European Affairs Minister Tommaso Foti announced that a measure on transport costs in the islands would be passed shortly. Taking stock of the NRP, Foti said that Sardinia and Sicily have been allocated 17.7 billion in funds

by Pietro Menzani

13 May 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"As far as transport is concerned, I can say that there will be a measure soon. We are analysing the detailed possibility of intervention in the sector and I will represent the difference that exists in terms of cost imbalance between the islands and the mainland'. This was announced by Tommaso Foti, Minister for European Affairs, the NRP and Cohesion Policies, during a hearing before the Parliamentary Commission for Combating Disadvantages of Insularity.

Transport problems in the islands

With reference to transport in Sicily and Sardinia, the minister stressed the need for structural measures, in particular to make the rail network more efficient. He explained that in the context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "reaching the targets is fundamental, especially with regard to certain interventions by FS. On connections we have to be realistic. Keep in mind what high-speed rail on the Rome-Naples line has meant: the fact that Naples can now be reached by train from Rome in an hour has brought tourist flows that were not there before, despite the beauty of those territories'.

Foti added that 'when we provide faster options in terms of transport, it is clear that the attractiveness increases, both in terms of investment and tourism'.

The Point on the Pnrr

During the hearing, the minister also took stock of the funds allocated to Sicily and Sardinia under the NRP. A total of EUR 17.7 billion has been allocated to the two regions. Specifically, Sicily has been allocated resources totalling 12.7 billion, with approximately 44,000 projects financed, while Sardinia has been given 5 billion, with 18,700 projects financed.

Regarding the country's use of European funds, he said that 'a key issue is that of administrative capacity', which constitutes 'a challenge for the whole of the Meridione'.

In fact, according to Foti, the use of NRP resources is linked 'to the administrative capacity that one is able to express. It is an issue that concerns the whole country, but in regions such as Sicily and Sardinia it is more evident. The responsibilities that the technical structures have today are not commensurate with their salaries'.

Pnrr, Fitto: "Ha avuto molti elementi positivi, ma è misura straordinaria"

Health Care Challenges

In front of the members of the Insularity Commission, the Minister for European Affairs then addressed the issue of healthcare in the islands, which, as he noted, 'is a very delicate subject in the regions of Sicily and Sardinia'. In fact, Foti recalled that 'the Pnrr was born as an economic shock to a pandemic that had highlighted not only economic fragilities, but also some obvious fragilities in the health sector. We cannot afford not to have spread intensive and sub-intensive care places at a territorial level. A significant part of the pandemic drama occurred because of this shortage. The national territory was not equipped for a rapid conversion of intensive and sub-intensive care beds'.

Foti finally stated that the targets that were set in the NRP 'should be achieved. However, with equal honesty, we must say that reaching the targets does not mean that we have narrowed the gap within the national territory. If the targets are achieved nationally due to a surplus in some areas and a delay in others, paradoxically, instead of narrowing the gaps, we risk widening them'.