WITHDRAWAL OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STRAIT OF MESSINA VEHICLE FERRY COMPANIES (Conclusion of investigation)
PRESS RELEASE
Withdrawal of the agreement between the Strait of Messina vehicle ferry companies
Ferrovie dello Stato, Caronte Shipping and Tourist Ferry Boat have cancelled the agreement notified to the Antitrust Authority on 5th June 1998 relating to vehicle ferry services across the Strait of Messina. The parties to the agreement justified it on the grounds that the vehicles had to be channelled across land owned by Ferrovie dello Stato to avoid the environmental problems created by the need for vehicles to pass through the town centre of Villa San Giovanni.
Even though the Authority lays great emphasis on environmental issues, and in this particular instance recognizes the magnitude of the problems caused by vehicles crossing through the town centre of Villa San Giovanni to reach the ferry boat embarkation stage, on 1st October 1998 it decided to investigate the three companies parties to the agreement. Its investigation showed that some of the clauses in the agreement relating to the embarkation procedures seemed likely to remove all competition between the parties and were not necessary for the reorganization the supply of the service designed to improve the environmental situation.
The parties took due note that the agreement was inconsistent with the Antitrust Act and withdrew it, and decided to apply to the local authorities to find alternative solutions to the environmental problems at issue.