The unspent money from the Territorial Pacts is once again available to the country system. In full economic recovery, the government has unblocked dormant funds provided they are intended for sustainable investments. Projects that favor the development of the local entrepreneurial system and which, in essence, activate circular economy systems. It is a new opportunity to experiment with innovative services and more to support businesses. THEThe plafond is 105 million euros and the proposals must come from SMEs and local authorities. The tender procedure put in place by Mise and Mef stems from the closure of the territorial pacts and area contracts but we are only now at the restart. Let's take a step back.
It was the Growth decree of 2019 to establish that the resources of the Territorial Pacts would benefit interventions in support of businesses. The entire philosophy of that strategy is geared towards giving a hand to local entrepreneurship, sustainable development, the aggregation of economic resources and industrial proposals in certain areas of the country. The same Decree has also simplified the procedures so as not to leave the funds that are now entering the field unused. The maximum expected contribution for each project is 10 million of Euro.
Consistent with Draghi's transversal acceleration of all investments, the works will have to be completed within sixty or forty-eight months depending on the type of work to be done. In fact, it is necessary to distinguish between innovative pilot projects and structural interventions. The ranking with funding will be managed by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti through the Revolving Fund to support businesses and investments in the research field. Therefore, a ranking is expected with proposals for competitiveness, the ecological transition, the redevelopment of urban areas, the environment. For structural interventions, the tender will reward the creation or modernization of public infrastructures intended for the local catchment area of the Territorial Pact, which are not suitable for attracting investments from other Member States.
The attention on the success of the operation must look a lot to the South. It could play a leading role in planning interventions in depressed areas. If SMEs and local authorities manage to organize credible, effective projects, also putting them in relation with the 4,6 billion of the Infrastructure decree to be spent by 2023, will give a good signal for the forecasts of GDP growth in the southern regions. That heavy ballast almost 8 points lower than in the Northern Regions. Much better if in the form of a circular economy.
