Executive Vice-President Ribera, in a written answer on 3 July 2026, stated that the European Commission has not received a pre-notification for the extension of the A15 motorway concession operated by SALT SpA, and therefore cannot provide further information on the matter. The answer, responding to a question from Gaetano Pedulla' (The Left), underscores the Commission's position that it is the responsibility of Member States to assess whether a planned measure, such as a proposed prolongation of highway concessions, constitutes state aid and, if necessary, to notify the Commission accordingly. Ribera added that the Commission remains available to support national authorities in ensuring full compliance with relevant EU law and, where needed, will undertake any appropriate measure.
The question referred to press reports that several motorway concessionaire companies, including those controlled by ASTM Group, had sent the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport new economic and financial plans (PEFs) allegedly pre-notified to the Commission, envisaging multiannual extensions of motorway concessions. The A15 concession has historically been linked to the Tyrrhenian-Brenner multi-modal corridor (Ti-Bre) project, which was the subject of an EU infringement procedure (2006/4419) closed in 2009 with an agreement between the Italian Government and the Commission laying down precise obligations for the company that received the concession extension without a public tender.
The answer contains no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines, but rather a general commitment to support compliance and take appropriate measures if needed. The policy orientation is one of deference to Member State responsibility, with the Commission acting as a backstop. No immediate institutional follow-up is signaled, though the Commission's offer to assist national authorities leaves the door open for future engagement if Italy notifies the measure.