In 14 months, from November 2011 to December 2012, Italy has used more European funds than it had in the previous 58 years. In this period the certified expenditure of our country has reached 9,2 billion: an acceleration that came about thanks to the extraordinary measures agreed with the European Union to solve Italy's difficulties in using Community funds.
In particular, according to the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Fabrizio Barca, 51 out of 52 operational programs exceeded spending targets. The automatic disengagement trap was triggered only for the interregional program on cultural, natural and tourist attractions, which thus lost 33 million euros. All the other programs, which were very late until a few months ago, have been saved.
Barca explained that all Regions have spent sums even higher than the target set for the end of 2012, so much to bring altogether Italy's certified expenditure at 18,3 billion euros: that is to 37% of the available amounts between 2007 and 2013 (it was 22% at the end of 2011). The regions of the Centre-North reached 45,4% of the resources, while those of the South stopped at 33,2%.
“A result that was achieved thanks to the commitment of all the local, regional and central administrations – underlined the minister -. This is a goal that will further strengthen our negotiating position at the next European Council, which will define the 2014-2020 financial framework. We have worked intensely with the Regions, in particular with Campania and Sicily, which were the furthest behind, and nothing we have done would have been possible without the collaboration that has existed. But I want to clarify that we have not spent so much to spend ”.
At this point, concluded Barca, “31,2 billion euros remain to be spent over the next three years. It is a challenge, because the commitment must remain very strong, but also an opportunity to counter the economic cycle”.
