The 2014-2020 programming period
Cohesion Policy actions in the 2014-2020 programming cycle were financed through resources from both EU funds (with national co-financing) and national funds. In 2021, the 2014-2020 allocation for Cohesion Policy was supplemented by the extraordinary resources allocated by Europe to combat the Covid-19 emergency and, in particular, by those related to the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU) package.
Implementation involves the definition of EU operational programmes and plans and programmes financed by national resources, whose main source is the Development and Cohesion Fund (Fondo Sviluppo e Coesione – FSC), thoroughly reorganised during the 2014-2020 cycle with the approval of Development and Cohesion Plans. Tables and data on the implementation progress of 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy plans and programmes are available.
Summaries of the main progress are available in the various editions of the Report on Underutilised Areas, issued by the Cohesion Policy Department (DIPCOE) – NUVAP and annexed annually to the Economic and Financial Document (Documento di Economia e Finanze – DEF).
Implementation of 2014-2020 programmes included measurement of territorial socio-economic contexts, evaluation of policy outcomes, and transparency actions.
The financial resources allocated to Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020, including Italy’s allocation for 2021 under the REACT-EU package, amounted to overall EUR 137.0 billion for the seven-year period (data at 31 December 2021), of which EUR 101.4 billion for Southern regions and EUR 32.6 billion for Central-Northern regions, respectively, in addition to EUR 3.0 billion not allocated territorially.
Learn more on 2014-2020 resources
The 2014-2020 programming period introduced a new legislative framework for the following five ESI funds under Cohesion Policy (CP), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The five ESI Funds are:
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);
- European Social Fund (ESF);
- Cohesion Fund (CF);
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD);
- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Regulations on European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds 2014-2020 are published in the Official Journal of the European Union (Eur-Lex).
In line with the 2014-2020 Partnership Agreement undersigned with the European Commission, in the 2014-2020 cycle Italy launched overall 15 National Operational Programmes (13 financed by ERDF and ESF): Governance e capacità istituzionale; Città metropolitane (Metro); Ricerca e innovazione; Per la scuola; Legalità; Cultura e sviluppo; Imprese e competitività; Iniziativa PMI; Infrastrutture e reti; Inclusione; Iniziativa occupazione giovani; Sistemi politiche attive per l’occupazione; Rete rurale (ERDF); Affari marittimi e pesca (EMFF).
The complete list of the 75 National and Regional Operational Programmes, with links to their websites, is available here. In total, over 700,000 projects are active, which can be consulted on the OpenCoesione website. Research can be enhanced by selecting specific criteria, including the involved territory.
Cohesion Policy resources for post-COVID-19 recovery. EUR 10.4 billion available from reprogramming
In 2016 all the 2014-2020 Operational Programmes (OPs) co-financed by ERDF and ESF funds entered their implementation phase.
2014-2020 implementation progress: All 51 Operational Programmes (OPs) co-financed by 2014-2020 ERDF and ESF submitted the certifications of incurred expenses and related reimbursement requests to the European Commission by 31 December 2021, and successfully exceeded the N+3 target for 2021. See the news.
Summary table of 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds resources
(Data updated at 30 June 2021)
The strategic framework and decision on thematic objectives underlying 2014-2020 interventions are defined in the Partnership Agreement with the European Commission dated 29 October 2014. The Agreement was amended via Implementing Decision C(2018) 598 – Final (8 February 2018) to include the greater EU resources allocated to Italy with respect to 2014, following the 2014-2020 technical adjustment of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) related to Gross National Income evolution.
In 2016, all 2014-2020 Operational Programmes co-financed by ERDF and ESF funds entered their implementation phase.
Moreover, as to the 2014-2020 European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Objective, Italy participated in 19 territorial cooperation programmes, 10 of which under an Italian Managing Authority (MA).
Communication activities on the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds are ensured at European level by the INFORM and INIO networks. The Territorial Cohesion Agency, together with the Cohesion Policy Department (DIPCOE) – Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and ANPAL (national agency for active employment policies), acts as national coordinator of the communication activity on ESI Funds.
Useful links:
Regulations:
Regulation (EU) No. 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013, laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1083/2006 – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
ERDF Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for Growth and Jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1080/2006 – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
ESF Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1081/2006 – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
ETC Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on specific provisions for support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European Territorial Cooperation goal – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
EGTC Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 1302/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1082/2006 on a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) as regards clarification, simplification and improvement of the rules on establishment and operation of such groupings – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
Cohesion Fund Regulation –Regulation (EU) No. 1300/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1084/2006 – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
EAFRD Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
EMFF Regulation – Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No. 2328/2003, (EC) No. 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No. 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council – Full text of the Regulation on Eur-Lex.
Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) – Regulation (EU) 2022/562 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 223/2014 as regards Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) – Full text of the regulation on Eur-Lex