The European Commission on Wednesday decided that it would not object to Italy's proposal to invite bids for a public transportation project envisaging the introduction of a regular maritime service linking Trieste, Portorož (Slovenia) and Poreč and Rovinj (Croatia), the Il Piccolo daily reported on Thursday.
Bids have already been invited by the Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia. After the best bidder is chosen, a regular service linking the four towns would be introduced during the year, Il Piccolo said.
The best bidder will be receiving, over a period of five years, subsidies amounting to EUR 1,645,796 annually at the most. In turn the company would have to offer favorable transport prices to help relieve road transport between Trieste and Rovinj.
The ferry service between Trieste and towns in Istria was discontinued in the summer of 2005.
Friuli Venezia Giulia will thus be the first Italian region to grant funds to establish maritime links with a non-EU country.