Structural Funds and Territorial Cooperation: an initial overview

Structural Funds programming is delayed, Territorial Cooperation programming is already in motion. Let’s find out together.

Structural Funds and Territorial Cooperation why we are lagging behind and what is happening

As can be seen in the sections of our Guide devoted to Structural Funds and Territorial Cooperation, programming in these two major “families” of European funds has lagged behind. This is due to the troubled genesis of the budget and seven-year programming of the European Union, to which we have devoted considerable space .

I community programs under direct management were approved shortly after the confirmation of the seven-year Financial Framework, but for the Structural Funds, Rural and for the Territorial Cooperation (called “shared management”) more time is needed. Starting with the establishment of the seven-year framework, their definition and approval in fact requires intervention, agreement and a longer “decision shuttle” between different institutional levels (European, national and regional).

In addition, the grafting of the NRP funds (particularly large in Italy) and related planning and management needs was an additional factor in the delay. They insist on the same territories with respect to the Structural Funds, have partly similar modes of intervention, and have imposed an additional effort on the managing authorities of the funds, which cannot always be addressed in a simple and orderly manner.

As we have already mentioned in a separate post , this delay does not imply a setback of calls for proposals and projects, as the Operational Programs provide for the validity of eligible expenditure to extend well beyond the end of the programming period. The 2014-2020 ROPs have an extended validity until December 31, 2023, the new 2021-2027 ROPs until December 31, 2029.

Rural Development Programs (RDPs), to which we have equally devoted a dedicated post , deserve a separate discussion. The 2014-2020 programming of RDPs has been extended for an additional two years through an “update” of regional programming valid until 2022. Starting in 2023, a new management system which provides for national programming of rural funds and their “declination” carried out at the regional level.

The delay was less significant with regard to the programs of Territorial Cooperation. Many of the Managing Authorities of these programs were able to adapt more quickly and have already started the new programming cycle.

Updates to our Guide on the Structural Funds and Territorial Cooperation

The situation is thus multifaceted, and the different Managing Authorities are proceeding at different speeds toward finalizing and starting their respective programs. Even where a final version of the new Operational Programs is available, many calls still refer to the old programming, and many websites are still structured around information from the 2014-2020 programming.

This makes it difficult to update our Guide, which aspires to provide a complete and consistent picture of funds and programs, with quick and orderly access to information provided by official channels.

However, we have tried to provide updates on this topic on several occasions: about two years ago , about a year ago and more recently in the last post we published.

It is time to provide a new, more comprehensive update. We hope it will be the last before the final reissue of our Guide reference pages.

In particular, we are counting on updating the pages for Territorial Cooperation programs in the near future, and we hope that there will soon be a basis for doing so for Regional and National Operational Programs as well.

Operational programs already approved

Please note: the following list does not exhaust the totality of Operational Programs of interest to Italy. As of the date of writing this article, the approval process is still ongoing for ROPs not mentioned in this list and for all NOPs. More updates will follow on our Guide pages. In the meantime, we recommend keeping informed through the following links, devoted respectively to the ROP/NOP ERDF and to the ESF+ ROPS/NOPS. .

Missing ROPs: Abruzzo, Basilicata*, Calabria*, Molise*, Puglia*, Umbria (*: these regions present a single ROP covering both ERDF and ESF+).

Legend: PO = Operational Program (regional or national – text) Other = Links Background papers and Funded projects. Budget = Amount for each of the priority of the Cohesion Policy (*) = For some regions: the “greener” priority includes a separate priority dedicated to mobility; the “social inclusion” priority includes a separate priority dedicated to actions innovative social – / aaa = Not yet available / Not yet updated

Documents and links available on Territorial Cooperation programs.

Please note: the following list includes the totality of Territorial Cooperation programs of interest to our country. As can be seen, the picture is already relatively complete. Documents and links not yet available as of the date of writing this article are not shown. More updates will follow on our Guide pages. In the meantime, we recommend keeping informed through this link .

Legend: PCT = Territorial Cooperation Program (text) Web = Web site of Program AdG = Managing Authority of the Program Other = Link calls page, Background papers, Funded projects Budget = Amount for each of the 6 major priorities of Territorial Cooperation – / aaa = Not yet available / Not yet updated