The European Commission (EC) has hit back at Italy’s populist government after it suggested that EU spending limits could be responsible for the Genoa motorway bridge collapse that killed dozens of people.

The row came as Italy's ministry of transport launched an investigation into the company responsible for maintaining the motorway, ordering the firm to commit to rebuilding the bridge at its own expense.

A spokesperson for EC president Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters in Brussels on Thursday the EU had in fact formally told Italy to improve its infrastructure, given it billions in development funds, and even signed off on a plan to specifically improve the motorways around Genoa.

“We think the time has come to make a few things clear. Over the 2014-2020 period Italy is set to receive around €2.5bn (£2.2bn) under European structural and investment funds for investment in network infrastructures such as roads or rail,” the spokesperson said.

“In April 2018 the commission also approved under EU state aid rules an investment plan for Italian motorways which will enable around €8.5bn of investments to go ahead including in the Genoa region.

“For the record, under the agreed fiscal rules member states are free to set specific policy priorities, for instance the development and maintenance of infrastructure. In fact, the EU has encouraged investment in infrastructure in Italy.

“The 2018 country specific recommendations adopted by the council called on the Italian authorities to better target investments to foster infrastructural development. As president Juncker has stated before, Italy is one of the main beneficiaries of the flexibility within the stability and growth pact. This has allowed Italy to invest and spend much more in recent years.”

​Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party and now the country’s interior minister, had suggested that the EU’s fiscal rules could have hampered investment.

“If external constraints prevent us from spending to have safe roads and schools, then it really calls into question whether it makes sense to follow these rules,” he said. “There can be no tradeoff between fiscal rules and the safety of Italians.”

Late on Thursday, Italy's ministry of transport said it would launch an investigation into road operator Autostrade per l'Italia and gave them 15 days to prove they had met their contractual obligations.

Officials said the company must immediately commit to rebuilding the bridge using its own money and within a limited timeframe.

Austerity and its relationship with the EU is a contentious political issue in Italy. In 2011 economist Mario Monti was made Italy’s prime minister despite never having been an elected politician, leading a government of technocrats trying to reduce the country’s debts.

If external constraints prevent us from spending to have safe roads and schools, then it really calls into question whether it makes sense to follow these rules Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister

Monti’s government, which was backed by Brussels, introduced strict austerity measures and introduced “labour market reforms” that weakened workers’ rights.

At least 39 people died after the 1960s concrete bridge carrying the A10 motorway fell away during a sharp and violent storm near the northwestern port city of Genoa.

Around 1,000 rescue workers have been hunting for survivors and at least 630 people evacuated from their homes in the area.

Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Show all 50 1 /50 Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Morandi bridge after it collapsed, in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Night view of the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Displaced people from their homes EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the rubble AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A rescuer look over towards part of the Morandi motorway bridge three days after a section collapsed in the northwestern city Genoa on August 16, 2018. - Italy's populist government was on a war footing with the Italian operator of the bridge that collapsed and killed dozens in the port city of Genoa as desperate efforts to find survivors in the rubble went into a third day. (Photo by Piero CRICIATTI / Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP / AFP)PIERO CRICIATTI/AFP/Getty Images PIERO CRICIATTI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Excavators dig into the rubble at the site of the highway-bridge-collapse disaster EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06952160 Night view of the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 15 August 2018 (issued on 16 August 2018). People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated following the collapse of a section of the Morandi bridge because there is a risk the other parts of the bridge could fall. The death toll for Tuesday's highway-bridge-collapse disaster has risen to 39, according to reports on 15 August, and the Italian Government proclaimed national mourning for the Genoa tragedy. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A lorry stands on the edge AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06951240 Displaced people from their homes in the area of he highway-bridge-collapse disaster in Genoa, Italy, 15 August 2018. People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated following the collapse of a section of the Morandi bridge because there is a risk the other parts of the bridge could fall. The death toll for Tuesday's highway-bridge-collapse disaster has risen to 39, according to reports on 15 August, and the Italian Government will proclaim national mourning for the Genoa tragedy. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A general view shows apartment buildings under the Morandi motorway bridge in background one day after a section collapsed in Genoa on August 15, 2018. - Nearly 40 people died on August 14, 2018 when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in Genoa in northwestern Italy, with the death toll expected to mount further. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP/Getty Images PIERO CRUCIATTI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. STRINGER Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at work amid the rubble EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini STEFANO RELLANDINI Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A picture taken on August 14, 2018 shows vehicles standing on a part of a giant motorway bridge after a section collapsed earlier in Genoa. - At least 22 people were killed on August 14 when the giant motorway bridge collapsed, with several more feared dead in what Italy's transport minister described as an "immense tragedy". The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. A large section of the bridge collapsed over an industrial area in the Italian city of Genova during a sudden and violent storm, leaving vehicles crushed in rubble below. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A destroyed truck is pictured as rescuers are at work amid rubble and wreckage after a section of a giant motorway bridge collapsed earlier in Genoa on August 14, 2018. - At least 22 people were killed on August 14 when the giant motorway bridge collapsed, with several more feared dead in what Italy's transport minister described as an "immense tragedy". The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue workers at the collapsed Morandi Bridge Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers are at work amid the rubble of a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed earlier, on August 14, 2018 in Genoa. - Rescuers scouring through the wreckage after part of a viaduct of the A10 freeway collapsed said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged on to railway lines below. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Cars seen among the rubble Vigili Del Fuoco/AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948876 Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa TOPSHOT - A picture taken on August 14, 2018 in Genoa shows a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed earlier injuring several people. - Rescuers scouring through the wreckage after part of a viaduct of the A10 freeway collapsed said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged on to railway lines below. (Photo by Andrea LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948886 Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Several people have died, rescue sources said. Several vehicles were crushed under the rubble with dead people inside, the sources said. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa This handout picture provided by the Italian police (Polizia di Stato) on August 14, 2018 shows a collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa. - A section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway collapsed on August 14, 2018 in Genoa, Italian firefighters said, with cars and trucks trapped among the rubble. Television images showed the viaduct in the mist with a huge chunk missing, with Italian media reporting that 200 metres of the "Morandi" bridge had fallen away. (Photo by Handout / ITALIAN POLICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT Â« AFP PHOTO / HO / POLIZIA DI STATO Â» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSHANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images HANDOUT AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge ANSA via AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948834 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948839 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948835 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948817 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Both sides of the highway fell AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948809 A handout photo made available by Italian firefighters shows rescue teams on the site of a collapsed bridge over the A10 highway in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. EPA/ITALIAN FIREFIGHTERS HANDOUT TO BE USED SOLELY TO ILLUSTRATE NEWS REPORTING OR COMMENTARY ON THE FACTS OR EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS IMAGE; NO ARCHIVING; NO LICENSING +++ HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES ITALIAN FIREFIGHTERS HANDOUT EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The site of a collapsed bridge EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa https://twitter.com/BattelliSergio/status/1029306695586066433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029306695586066433&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-europe-45183624 Sergio Battelli/Twitter Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948816 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948815 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Italy, Genoa - bridge collapse https://twitter.com/emergenzavvf/status/1029312140652564481 Vigili del Fuoco/Twitter

It emerged on Wednesday that the Five Star Movement, the populist party that leads Italy’s coalition government with the far-right League, had campaigned against improvements to the bridge and described claims it would collapse as a children’s fairytale. Some structural work was carried out on the bridge in 2016.