Matteo Salvini come back to him United States with blackmail in his pocket that threatens to bring down the government. It was formulated by the American president Donald Trump, who asked the Italian deputy prime minister to “do whatever it takes” to make the Tap, i.e. the Italian part of the trans-Adriatic gas pipeline which should bring Azeri gas to Europe without passing through Russia. It is a fundamental infrastructure to reduce the EU's energy dependence on Vladimir Putin and therefore it is considered decisive on a geopolitical level by the White House.
The problem is that the Tap, just like the Tav, has always been opposed by the 5 Star Movement. Salvini should therefore overcome the resistance of the ally on this front as well. Alternatively, the Northern League leader could choose just the pipeline as pretext to provoke a government crisis by 20 July and return to general elections at the end of September.
Actually, the Tap has received a first go-ahead last fall and Grillini's doubts seem to have been overcome. Since then, work has progressed according to schedule. However, the US is not convinced. They fear that something could go wrong due to some judicial events or some grillina reluctance within the Ministry of the Environment.
Indeed, they hang on the work two appeals presented to the criminal court of Lecce. The first on the possibility of applying the so-called European Seveso directive to the Tap, which concerns the procedures aimed at preventing major environmental disasters and which would increase safety standards. The second concerns the metals found within the aquifer in the work area. The judges should express their opinion on both appeals in October.
As far as the political aspect is concerned, in this case the doubts of the Americans concern the Minister of the Environment Sergio Costa, at M5S altitude. There Environmental Impact Assessment commission – appointed 10 years ago by former minister Stefania Presitigiacomo – was essentially ousted last summer by Costa, who never proceeded to replace her. However, the completion of the gas pipeline requires another five opinions from this commission, without which the project would stall.
Costa's slowness has made the United States suspicious, which does not trust the grillini and for this reason puts pressure on the League. They ask Salvini to do "whatever it takes". Which also means, if necessary, bringing down the government.
