NAPLES – A new turn of events has taken place regarding the management of the Donn'Anna and Monache beaches. The Port Authority has self-regulatoryly cancelled the tender published in August and initiated a new procedure with a deadline of January 22. The decision follows the opinion of the Italian Competition Authority, which was called into question by the Mare Libero association's complaint. "This is a first step; we will review all the concessions," stated the authority's president, Eliseo Cuccaro, while La Repubblica Napoli published details of the critical elements.
The main issue concerns the previous requirement that restricted participation exclusively to beach resorts and tourism businesses, which the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) deemed "anti-competitive" and was challenged by Mare Libero president Roberto Biagini. The new tender now opens the bidding process to all businesses, but this does not allay the concerns of citizens' committees, who are calling for real guarantees regarding transparency, competition, and the protection of public goods. "If the new regulations do not guarantee all of this, we reserve the right to take further legal action," they warn, reiterating their call for a public discussion.
The case stems from the dispute raised by the Palazzo Petrucci restaurant: the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) and the Council of State annulled the concession to Bagno Elena, which was later technically extended by the port authority, prompting the initiation of a public tender process. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) requested clarification last September, just days before the deadline for submitting bids. The hearing on November 13th then prompted the Port Authority to cancel the tender on November 24th, paving the way for the current procedure.
The new tender provides 2.500 square meters for umbrellas and deckchairs, divided into three lots, with a starting bid of approximately €3.500 each. Meanwhile, the port authority is looking further ahead: "These are new procedures that need to be studied and discussed with agencies and authorities," Cuccaro emphasizes. "The matter should be managed by the municipalities, but in Naples we still have the mandate. The goal is to provide an opportunity to better redevelop those areas in a city with few beaches."
The committees, however, are demanding more and are pointing the finger at what has happened so far: "We want to know who established the questionable criteria, why they were chosen, and whose interests influenced the process. The sea and beaches are a collective good; they shouldn't be treated like commodities."
Verified Source
Choose the social channel you want to subscribe to