Ferreira: “Italian requests for reform support are a sign of responsibility”

Brussels – A total of 97 reform projects from 2017 to date, including 15 in the current year alone, spread over several areas, from the twin transition to justice, from improving fund management to improving public administration, from training to gender equality. Data in hand, “Italy is one of the main beneficiaries of the Technical Support Facility” for reforms of the European Commission. Elisa Ferreira, the Commissioner for Cohesion, presents the annual work program of the Technical Support Instrument launched in 2017, and the country system turns out to be one of those that stands out, because the challenges are many, she says in the interview with Eunews.

Eunews: Why and how important is this tool?

Elisa Ferreira: “There is a lot of talk about money and too little about what is done with that money. Quality in public administration, in public management, in universities, the ability to recognize which hurdles need removal, are the real asset on which to work.”

E: The instrument was established in 2017.  Then, the Green Deal came along. Have you noticed a demand for support for Green Deal goals, or is there still a general demand for support for issues that are less new, such as immigration or training?

E.F: “Yes, we see this trend. In general, there is a growing demand for support for green projects also to avoid greenwashing. But there are also the issues of transition-related skills.”

E: Looking at Italy’s data, the largest number of requests for assistance is in the public administration. Do we have a problem?

E.F: “You call it a problem. I call it an opportunity. And also a responsibility. Italy is among the biggest beneficiaries of cohesion policies, among the biggest beneficiaries of the Recovery Fund, and of the Just Transition Fund. It’s also understandable that public administrations can find themselves in a difficult position when there are so many funds and legislations.”

E: Do you see improvements?

E.F: “All the ministers I had had the opportunity to work with, Giuseppe Provenzano (minister for the South in 2021-2022, editor’s note), Mara Carfagna (successor to Provenzano, until October 2022, editor’s note), and Renato Brunetta (minister for Public Administration 2021-2022, editor’s note) have talked about this issue, about the public administration as an area where improvements can be made, especially for the South. I see that there is a realization in Italy that there is an intention to work in this area of public administration.”

E: Italy has experienced problems with the absorption of structural funds. Is this technical support facility an answer?

E.F: “It has helped and is still helping. Italy is a great country, so its strength and resilience are essential.”