The president of the Lagoon Authority, Roberto Rossetto, has written to the government: “Without the transfer of funds, safeguards, maintenance, and barrier raising operations will be halted.”
June 6, 2026
By Eugenio Pendolini
The much-touted full-operationality decree issued last February had suggested that the troubled path to activating the Lagoon Authority, established after a gestation period of over four years, was finally on the right track. But that’s not the case. True, the structure exists today. However, it lacks the funds needed to operate.
Or rather, they were confiscated by the Public Works Department and then transferred to the Authority. A bit like what happened with the staff. Except that the employees were transferred, but the funds weren’t, and now they’ve gone back to the Ministry of Infrastructure. But doing this has left the Authority unable to pay companies for work that has been done, nor plan the remaining work. And there’s a lot of it. How much money are we talking about? Over €300 million. So, the stakes are high. Either the money is transferred, and quickly, from the Ministry of Infrastructure to the headquarters at Rialto, in Palazzo Dieci Savi, or everything risks coming to a halt. Literally, everything to do with MOSE: protection work, maintenance, and raising the barriers at high tides.
What’s Happening
In short, here we go again. After the end-of-year concerns over funding uncertainties related to the budget law, the issue came to a head again on Friday. Roberto Rossetto, the Authority’s president, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure explaining the need to immediately transfer all funds from the Department of Infrastructure to the Authority, or there would be the risk of serious employment consequences for company workers.
The crux of the matter is that the funds for the protection of the Lagoon and the operation of MOSE have never been transferred from the Ministry of Infrastructure to the Lagoon Authority. These funds are currently held by the Department of Public Works. Thus, the Authority itself (despite having obtained the full functionality decree in February) is unable to fulfill the duties established by the founding law.
This, the Authority itself reports, could have serious implications for the functioning of the Consorzio Venezia Nuova and the businesses required to operate daily, with possible implications for future MOSE lifting operations.
The Municipality of Venice
The Municipality of Venice and Mayor Simone Venturini are also closely monitoring the matter, stating that they are following the Lagoon Authority’s case “with the utmost attention”. In the last few hours, the mayor has held discussions with the Government, with the president of the Lagoon Authority, Roberto Rossetto, and with the liquidator of the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, Massimo Miani. The goal is to facilitate the rapid release of the already allocated ministerial resources to ensure the continued activities and the functioning of this strategic system for defending Venice.
“Safeguarding the area is an absolute priority”, the mayor stated. “We must ensure operational certainty for the structures involved and protect the professionalism and jobs of a sector essential to the city. Since this is a highly bureaucratic issue, I am confident in a swift resolution. I immediately contacted the various stakeholders, ensuring the Municipality’s full commitment to resolving the matter.”
Resources for the Authority
This issue brings to the fore the issue of resources to be allocated to the Authority, returning to the fact that at the end of December, assurances had been received regarding the allocation of adequate funds. In that case, too, the actions stemmed from the earthquake triggered by the alarming letter sent by the Consorzio Venezia Nuova regarding the suspension of the €84 million earmarked for paying contractors and for the operation of the major project.
In the following days, the Ministries of Infrastructure and Economy and Finance reassured everyone that the funds would be released in a timely manner to ensure all the resources necessary for the operation of MOSE.
Indeed, a modicum of calm had come after the approval of the Budget, with provisions including €69 million per year until 2028, tied (precisely) to the management and maintenance of MOSE and including a €10 million increase. This increase was confirmed for the next three years in the face of a request to increase the amount by €30 million for 2027, €40 million for 2028, and €60 million from 2029.
However, this was less than the Authority itself had requested. Not to mention that the sum did not include any money for maintenance and protection work. Therefore: mooring posts, maintenance of the canals under the responsibility of the former Authority, dredging, and foundation work all lacking funding. In short, a veritable puzzle involving millions and millions of euros. With the lagoon an unwilling bystander.
Source: La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre
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