>@EIB
  • European Investment Bank and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti will each provide €375 million towards this project, which is secured by the guarantee of SACE (Italian state insurance and finance company)
  • This operation provides for completion of the third lane of the A4 Venice-Trieste motorway, supporting strategic national logistical infrastructure and representing a key link between Eastern and Western Europe
  • The project will boost the region’s economy and make the motorway network safer 

Some €750 million will be provided for the upgrading and management of sections of the Autostrade Alto Adriatico motorway, which will have a substantial economic and social impact for the region. The agreement was signed today at the headquarters of Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Trieste by Sole Director of Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico (SAAA) Anna di Pasquale, Deputy Managing Director and Business Director of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) Massimo Di Carlo, and Principal Advisor of the Growth Capital and Project Finance Department of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Simone Dell’Atti, in the presence of the President of Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Commissioner with responsibility for completion of the A4 motorway.

The transaction signed today is structured under two separate €375 million loans that the EIB and CDP have provided to Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico for the expansion and upgrading of the following sections of motorway: A4 Venice-Trieste (the main investment component, which involves completion of the construction of the motorway’s third lane), A28 Portogruaro-Conegliano, A23 Palmanova-Udine, A57 Tangenziale di Mestre, and A34 Villesse-Gorizia. The agreement also involves the participation of SACE, with insurance coverage of strategic importance for the Italian economy in terms of triggering production and employment processes.

There will be positive economic and social impacts in the region and for local communities. The works financed will make infrastructure safer, reduce traffic levels and maintain employment levels. Furthermore, there are benefits stemming from the modernisation of a fundamental and strategic section of the Lisbon-Kiev Corridor V of the TEN-T network, which forms a key link between Eastern and Western Europe.

Following an innovative financing process, which saw the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto Regions collaborate with Italian and European authorities and stakeholders, Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico was formed by the Regions in 2018 and will manage “in-house” motorway routes for the next 30 years, enabling funds to continue to be invested in support of regional development and maintaining jobs at Autovie Venete, the current manager of these motorway sections.

This loan follows the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Veneto Region and Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico on 14 July 2022 and precedes the takeover of the motorway sections by Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico scheduled for June 2023.

“The operation signed today will help continue the upgrading of strategic infrastructure not only for Friuli-Venezia Giulia but also for the whole country against the backdrop of greater logistical integration with EU guidelines aimed at increasing the ability to absorb traffic volumes and improve road safety levels,” said the President of Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Commissioner with responsibility for completion of the A4 motorway.

“This is the start of a new era and a more operational phase for the company. After the takeover of the motorway sections, the company, its partners and the conceding party, with the help of the lenders, will need to be prepared to manage and implement this innovative motorway management system with the necessary flexibility triggered by the current difficult economic circumstances,” said Sole Director of Autostrade Alto Adriatico Anna Di Pasquale.

“Once again, the synergy between domestic and EU institutions has yielded excellent results. Just one week ago, together with the other players involved, we announced a unique high-speed rail operation in Sicily and today CDP is confirming its support for another important, strategic motorway network project in the Upper Adriatic region of Italy, which forms part of the corridor connecting Eastern and Western Europe. Sustainable infrastructure development thus remains a core theme for CDP, in accordance with the guidelines of the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan,” said Deputy Managing Director and Business Director of CDP Massimo Di Carlo.

“This EIB operation will contribute to modernisation of the North-East Italy motorway network, which forms part of the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor, a key hub to help strengthen social, economic and regional cohesion in the European Union. This operation will also help to significantly improve road safety and increase traffic capacity in the country,” said EIB Director for Growth Capital and Project Finance Operations Alessandro Izzo.

“We are proud to bring positive public-private synergy in support of such a key strategic infrastructure project as the A4 Venice-Trieste motorway, which will bring tangible benefits to the region’s community and economy. Modern, connected infrastructure is crucial to foster effective and efficient mobility of goods and people, which can support the sustainable, long-term growth of companies and the country itself,” said Chief Business Officer of SACE Bernardo Attolico.