The 2021-2027 Partnership Agreement
The Partnership Agreement is a document prepared by each Member State and approved by the European Commission, which sets out that Member State’s own strategy and priorities and illustrates how the ESI Funds can be used efficiently and effectively to pursue the EU’s Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The Partnership Agreement proposal dated 16 December 2021 was approved via CIPESS Decision No. 78 of 22 December 2021, following the agreement within the State-Regions Conference, published in the Official Gazette (General Series) No. 94 of 22 April 2022.
On 17 January 2022 – following the Understanding reached in the Unified Conference on 16 December 2021 and CIPESS approval on 22 December 2021, and in accordance with Articles 10 and subsequent articles of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 laying down Common Provisions on the Funds (CPR) – the Cohesion Policy Department submitted to the European Commission, in accordance with formal notification requirements, Italy’s proposed its Partnership Agreement for 2021-2027 for EU Cohesion Policy funds.
With the presentation of the Partnership Agreement, the formal negotiation phase begins – within the following 90 days the Commission may make observations that the Member State shall take into account in revising the Agreement. The Commission shall adopt, by means of an implementing act, a decision approving the Partnership Agreement within 4 months from the date of its first submission.
On 10 June 2022, in accordance with formal notification requirements, the Cohesion Policy Department provided the European Commission with the revised version of Italy’s proposed EU Cohesion Policy Partnership Agreement for 2021-2027, taking account of the Commission’s comments.
An implementing decision adopted by the Commission is required for the Partnership Agreement to enter into force.
See the dedicated presentation and briefing. News on the closure of negotiations on 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy regulatory framework.
THE 2021-2027 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT SIGNED
The Partnership Agreement between Italy and the European Commission for the 2021-2027 programming cycle was approved via EC Implementing Decision of 15 July 2022.
On 19 July 2022 the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreement (PDF) was signed and adopted in the presence of the Minister for Southern Italy and Territorial Cohesion, Mara Carfagna, and the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. See the news.
For the 2021-2027 programming cycle, Italy will rely on EUR 75.3 billion Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, including both European resources and national co-financing.
The resources from Brussels amount to EUR 43.1 billion, including the shares earmarked for the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and European Territorial Cooperation (ETC). This allocation proves to be the highest compared to previous cycles. Italian Regions’ share is close to EUR 48 billion.
The new cycle will see some changes in the classification of individual Regions. In fact, not only Abruzzo, which is confirmed in this category, but also Umbria and Marche (previously among the ‘more developed’ ones) are now considered ‘transition’ Regions. ‘Less developed’ Regions are the remaining ones in Southern Italy (Campania, Molise, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia), while ‘more developed’ Regions include those located in Italy’s Centre-North, with the exclusion of Umbria and Marche.
Excluding the share reserved for the ETC, European and national Structural Funds are distributed among the three following categories of Regions:
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- More developed: EUR 23.882 billion
- Transition: EUR 3.612 billion
- Less developed: EUR 46.575 billion.
Read more on the website of the Minister for Southern Italy and Territorial Cohesion
European Commission Representation in Italy