Italian Minister Matteo Salvini unveils €35 billion Calabria investment plan and child‑car safety campaign

Minister Matteo Salvini announced that more than €35 billion of infrastructure projects are scheduled for the Calabria region, with over €13 billion already financed. The programme includes €3.8 billion for the renovation of State Road 106 Jonica, upgrades to the Battipaglia‑Reggio Calabria high‑speed line, speed enhancements on the Sibari‑Melito Porto Salvo railway segment, the Lamezia Terme‑Catanzaro Lido transversal, and works linked to the proposed Messina Strait bridge. Regional President Nicola Occhiuto praised the unprecedented level of investment for Calabria.

In a separate initiative, Salvini presented a new public‑service spot titled “Il posto vuoto”, produced by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport together with Assogiocattoli. The video urges adults to protect children in cars, noting that roughly 7,000 minors are injured each year in Italian road accidents and that the share of unprotected children has risen sharply. The campaign will be broadcast nationwide on television and radio, especially during the summer travel season.