Italian Government Reverses Opposition to Turin-Lyon High-Speed Rail

July 25, 2019 (EIRNS)—Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte gave the go-ahead to the construction of the Turin-Lyon high-speed rail (TAV) tunnel in a speech in Parliament yesterday. Conte explained the reversal of his previous position, citing an improved financial situation thanks to more funds coming from the European Union. The Five Star Movement (M5S) sees Conte’s announcement as a betrayal, and its deputies left the floor when he spoke.

The go-ahead for the Turin-Lyon infrastructure project is a welcomed decision, but comes after a year of its being blocked. Furthermore, the basic approach of the M5S ministers has not changed. All major infrastructure projects are being blocked under M5S Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli on the pretext of new cost-benefit analyses, including the Brescia-Verona TAV section which would complete the Pan-European Corridor 5 (Lisbon-Budapest) on Italian territory.