15/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On the subject of the polemic between Italian members after the vote at the EP which removed the project of a bridge over the Messina Straits from the list of priority projects for trans-European transport networks (see EUROPE of 13 March, p.13), Democratici di sinistra member Fiorella Ghilardotti gives in a press release the mitigated response by European Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, whom she and her colleagues, Claudio Fava and Massimo Carraro had questioned in this connection. On one hand, Ms de Palacio affirms that the bridge would be an "important link between the largest island of the Mediterranean and the Continent". She went on to specify, however, that, if the project were finally approved, any request from the Italian government about its financing would require close examination, mainly in relation with environmental legislation. The Commissioner also confirms he had received a complaint about the compatibility of the project with European environmental directives, a complaint that will be carefully examined.