The cruel irony here is that the local economy would benefit from any capital investment along the shore. It would increase tourism and create jobs for the unemployed locals. Southern Italy (Calabria, Sicily and Campania) has the lowest income per capita in italy and the highest unemployment rates in the country. The economic disparity between north and south is pretty wide with income per capita about half what it is in the north.


GDP per person in Euros:

Calabria - 16,600
Sicily - 16,800
Northwest Italy - 31,800
Northeast Italy - 31,300

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-11-28_en.htm