Environmental organizations Peacelink and Giustizia per Taranto announced a lawsuit against the Integrated Environmental Authorization (AIA) granted to the former Ilva steel plant during a press conference outside Taranto’s Prefecture.
“The lawsuit targets an unacceptable authorization permitting Ilva to continue coal-based production for 12 more years,” stated Alessandro Marescotti, president of Peacelink. He confirmed coalition partners include PeaceLink, Giustizia per Taranto, Genitori Tarantini, Isde Taranto, and the Cittadini e Lavoratori Liberi e Pensanti committee.
A crowdfunding campaign launched for legal fees surpassed €5,000 within hours, exceeding the initial €3,500 target. “If we win, we win for everyone,” Marescotti declared. He demanded “immediate suspension of carcinogenic, genotoxic, and neurotoxic emissions,” calling current operations “an experiment losing €100 million monthly.”
The coalition submitted a government proposal via the Prefect to transfer excess Acciaierie d’Italia workers to Ilva in AS—a state entity managing asset conservation and site remediation. They urged expanded employment initiatives including reforestation, public green space maintenance, public building renovation, and extreme weather civil protection programs.
Marescotti estimated sustaining 10,000 workers through such projects would cost €500 million annually—”less than the company’s current losses.”
Giustizia per Taranto president Massimo Ruggieri condemned the agreement’s timeline: “Whether 12, 8, or 5 years, negotiating downward is unthinkable. Three coal blast furnaces operating for 12 years under this AIA is unsustainable. We will fight this authorization that continues harming us.”
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