Assolombarda signed a pact with local trade unions to relaunch the metropolitan government and promote a real reform of the metropolitan cities. The agreement was signed by Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda, Massimo Bonini, Secretary General of CGIL Milan, Mario Prince, General Secretary of the CGIL Ticino Olona, Charles Gerla, Secretary General CISL Milano Metropolitana e Salvatore Monteduro, Confederal Secretary UIL Milan.
Attention to the resources of metropolitan cities
With this pact, Assolombarda and the unions intend raise awareness of the issue of governance, functions and resources of metropolitan cities, with particular reference to Milan. They also undertake to constantly interact with other territorial organizations, political forces and institutions to promote the issues addressed in the agreement and develop initiatives for a true reform of metropolitan cities.
Assign the function of coordinating network services to the metropolitan cities
One of the central points of the agreement concerns theassignment to the metropolitan cities of the coordination function of network services. This includes the management of water networks, the waste cycle with a focus on the circular economy and energy valorisation, as well as public and private mobility networks. The importance of an interconnected metropolitan perspective that goes beyond the boundaries of the individual provincial capitals and aims at zero environmental impact is underlined. Similarly, telematic networks must foster the growth and integration of all territories of the metropolitan area, while environmental protection requires a vision and choices that consider the entire area. It is also crucial develop a network of services for employment and training, offering adequate retraining opportunities to workers.
Greater coordination between institutions
Assolombarda and the trade unions are also asking for the need to greater coordination between all institutions that operate in the metropolitan city area, including municipalities, as well as between regional and state institutions that influence the area.
Another crucial point is regarding the budget sustainability of the metropolitan cities and the need for a staff adequate for the new functions. Without an adequate budget and organizational structure, it will never be possible to exercise a function of governance of the networks, coordinate the entities or develop strategic planning.
Lastly, Assolombarda and the local unions “converge on the need to a new institutional structure of the metropolitan cities, as there can be no government function without a democratic legitimacy that allows citizens to recognize themselves in the institution of the metropolitan city. This is even more important in a phase in which the data on participation in elections show a worrying disaffection of citizens towards the institutions”.
"To respond to the challenge of competitiveness, it is essential to equip the metropolitan city of Milan with adequate tools and resources to govern an area that is already highly interconnected in terms of networks, mobility and services, also in view of the grounding of the PNRR - he declared Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda -. Unfortunately, on the other hand, strong criticalities have persisted for too long: the Organization today constitutes an unfinished project and, moreover, is experiencing an alarming financial situation. We therefore wanted to promote this pact with the unions with the aim of bringing the issue to the attention of political forces and institutions to define a new government function for metropolitan cities, which today is a real 'Cinderella' in the country's institutional set-up”.
“A debate on institutional reforms is open in the country, bills have been presented to redefine the role and functions of the provinces. We believe it is essential to place the function and role of metropolitan cities, in particular, as regards the Milan area, starting from the necessary function of coordination of network services, sustainability and availability of budget and personnel suitable for the new functions of competence, in addition to the specificity of the territory. A new institutional set-up of metropolitan cities – with renewed and more specific administrative functions, capable of networking primary services and coordinating the various local operators, planning medium-range mobility between the various municipalities – needs a democratic legitimacy which allows all citizens of the area to recognize themselves in the metropolitan city institution” – they commented CGIL Milan e Ticino Olona, CISL Milan e UIL Milan.
