According to legal opinions I have gathered, which the State Attorney Marco Corsini, who is assisting me in the activities of the Commissioner, is ready to discuss with those from your office, the project of the U.S. base at Dal Molin is not subject to a VIA since it is an administrative procedure relative to “facilities destined for national defense” (which are associated with infrastructures financed with NATO funds and other allied forces) introduced by petition prior to July 31, 2007, the date in which Law 152/2006 went into effect, and therefore subject to regulations in act previously (see article 52, comma 2), and for such type of intervention the VIA is excluded.
I therefore feel that while we await the necessary analysis, we should avoid expressing willingness toward the position of the Minister of the Environment, expressions that perhaps in the view of political opportunity could help attenuate some current pressures, but that later would be difficult to retract.
It seems to me evident, in any event, that asserting that the project is not subject to the VIA would be more promising if referred to the project of substantial re-use of the existing Italian military structures (west solution) rather than the use of the large open field (east solution).
The third act, to be put together starting with the Defense Ministry and to be concluded under the direction of the Prime Minister’s Office, regards the elaboration and the signing of a “framework agreement” with all interested parties in order to make official the deadlines, actions and responsibilities, to which appropriate publicity will be given.
Best regards,
Paolo Costa
Letter by then Prime Minister Romano Prodi to George Bush communicating his government’s approval of the base. This informal letter has been offered as a response to the regional court’s ruling that no formal government act had ever been presented regarding the matter.
Rome, May 18, 2007
Mr. President, Dear George,
In a few days we will see each other in Germany for the G8 summit and again in Rome shortly afterwards. I am particularly pleased to have these two opportunities to meet, which I am certain will be useful occasions to review a series of issues of mutual interest in the spirit of the friendship that has always represented our bilateral relations.
In this sense, I would like to inform you of the decision by my government to give its consent to the expansion of the U.S. base in Vicenza through the use of the Dal Molin Airport in the same city.
I further inform you that I intend to nominate the Honorable Paolo Costa as my representative to facilitate the completion of the expansion and to coordinate the relationships between the central administrations and the agencies involved in the project.
In this context, the Minister of Defense – through the Joint Chiefs of Staff – will cooperate as regards the Italian side of the execution of the project under the framework provided by the Bilateral Infrastructure Agreement of 1954.
I am certain that such provisions will guarantee us a swift execution of the work in the interest of all, the US Military and the economic and social interests of the area.
I look forward to seeing you soon in Heiligendamm as well as Rome and I send my best wishes.
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