Press Release: Italy: Commission to close nature protection case in Venice lagoon

The European Commission closed a case against Italy concerning requirements under EU nature protection laws and the construction of moving dams in the Venice lagoon. The dams are intended to reduce the risk of flooding, and so protect the city, but at the same time they have an impact on the ecological values of the lagoon. As a result of measures now proposed by the Italian authorities to limit the extent of damage to the ecosystems and compensate for the impact, and in view of the objectives of the project, the Commission closed the case.