Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for regional policies, takes stock of the state of European funding, cursing Italy on the use of EU funds. In an interview with ANSA, Johannes Hahn underlines the need for targeted investments on a few priorities, such as tourism and cultural heritage, renewable energies and urban development plans. “Enough with the rain distribution of EU funds", with the draft partnership agreement "that we expect from Italy in the autumn" we aim "to ensure a strong concentration of available resources on a few, clear priorities".
During the interview Johannes Hahn explained how in Italian programming there are projects that should be given greater importance and others that the European Union would no longer like to see. “There are already good examples around, such as the Technopoles in Emilia Romagna, the integrated urban development plans in Tuscany, or those of renewable energies in Puglia. But we no longer want the funds to be used for events such as the Elton John concert in Naples or the A3 for Salerno-Reggio Calabria”.
Brussels will not be inflexible on funding priorities, but it is asking Italy to act with common sense. There is a need for innovative projects that support businesses while paying attention to local resources and the environment. "The link between cultural heritage and the future prosperity of its regions, especially in the South - says Johannes Hahn - is clear and the next programming can help".
The accusation of the EU commissioner for regional policies is aimed in particular at what happened in the past, when the funds "were distributed in rain" thus reducing their impact on the economy and thus making their management more difficult. However, as Hahn himself observes, it is not just an Italian problem. It is therefore necessary to “focus on few priorities” for the programming of the structural funds of the EU financial budget 2014-2020.
Future strategies for using European funds are at the center of the draft partnership agreement that Italy is working on and which should be delivered to the Commission by 30 September. The bulk of investments will have to be concentrated in the digital agenda, in support of SMEs and in the low-carbon economy. “You can't keep trying to please everyone. To really make a difference in the country's economic development – concludes Hahn – it is necessary to focus on a limited number of priorities, with the aim of creating lasting employment, supporting already existing strengths in the regions, and triggering new growth”.
