Brussels, 01/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - As previously indicated (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.5), the European Commission adopted several decision concerning the interventions of the Structural funds in Italy as part of the Community support framework for Objective 1 Italian regions (regions lagging behind in development) as well as the regional operational programme "Moses" region in transitional support). It concerns the first Italian programmes of Objective 2 approved for the 200-2006 period.
The financial resources allocated over a seven year period to these programmes, in which the emphasis is mainly placed on social cohesion and sustainable development, is the following (in millions of Euros): - Sicily: total cost 9,415, structural funds 3,858; - Campania 9,216, 3,825; - Puglia: 6,671, 2,639; - Sardinia: 4,686, 1,994; - Basilicata: 1,586, 743; - Molise: 605, 181.
These programmes are articulated in six priority axis for interventions, taking into account the specific characteristics of the regions concerned and the fabric of local productivity. These axis are as follows: - natural resources, water resources, waste processing, renewable energy); - cultural resources; - human resources (in close cooperation with the European strategy for employment and the Italian plan for employment); - local development systems (systems of local production, new enterprises, tourism); - cities - service networks and nodes (transport and information society).
Furthermore, the Commission approved:
- The multi-regional operational programme "Sviluppo imprenditoral locale" aiming for the enlargement and reinforcing of the productive base in Italian regions under Objective 1, with specific attention paid to SMEs, which benefit from at least 70% of the resources available. Total public spending of around EUR 3,919 million is foreseen, including 1,979 million financed by the Structural funds.
- The multi-regional operational programme "Ricerca scientifica, sviluppo technologico, alta fromazione", aiming to increase the scientific and technological content of the Mezzogiorno production. The total forecasted cost is around EUR 2,039 million, including 1,191 million financed by the Structural funds. The programme includes three main axis: - research and development of the industry and strategic sectors in Mezzogiorno; - reinforcing and opening the scientific system and high level training (with interconnections between the scientific system and enterprises); - developing human capital of excellence.