Following agreements with Slovakia, Portugal and Estonia (see EUROPE 12995/19), on Tuesday 19 July the European Commission adopted a partnership agreement with Italy on the distribution of €42.7 billion of European funds for 2021-2027 to foster social and territorial cohesion, with a particular focus on southern regions, according to a press release.
The funds will also support the country’s green and digital transition. “With national co-financing, the total allocation for cohesion policy amounts to €75 billion”. In detail, more than €30 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) will go to the less developed regions of southern Italy to reduce the gap between regions in terms of economic activity, employment opportunities, education and access to health services and care.
More than €8.7 billion from the ERDF will be used for investments in a circular and low-carbon economy and for public building renovations. €1 billion will go to the Sulcis-Iglesiente region in Sardinia and the Taranto region in Puglia as part of the Just Transition Fund (JTF); €9.5 billion will be used for industrial competitiveness and €15 billion from the ESF+ will be invested in social inclusion measures and labour market activation and training measures.
‘Sustainable’ fisheries will receive €518 million. Link to the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/2ow (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)