Delays in boosting administrative capacity in southern Italy impact on the implementation of the NRRP and cohesion policy

Brussels – Strengthening administrative capacity: Italy is experiencing delays in implementing the measures set out in cohesion policies, which are essential to the success of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), raising concerns in the European Parliament and prompting investigations by the European Commission, which is now placing the country under monitoring. The reason for this situation is Italy’s delay in recruiting 2,200 people for the South, an issue raised in the parliamentary question by Danilo Della Valle and Valentina Palmisano (M5S/The Left). 

The South Cohesion project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and aimed at recruiting experts for local authorities in southern Italy, is not functioning as intended. It is intended to be “a key tool for supporting the implementation of EU-funded initiatives,” as the Five Star Movement MEPs point out. “However, despite the approval of the shortlists in May 2025, the recruitment process remains, to date, severely incomplete.” 

The figures available to the EU executive confirm that this is far from being achieved. “As of 14 April 2026, 987 people had been recruited and had taken up their posts, out of a total of 1,394 shortlisted candidates,” explains the Executive Vice-President for Reforms, Raffaele Fitto. Therefore, compared with the 2,200 candidates to be recruited, the number of pre-selected candidates is 809 short of the target. Of the initial 1,394 candidates, 947 have not yet taken up their posts. In practical terms, for every person called upon to take up a post, there is another left waiting. But overall, of the 2,200 people envisaged by the project, 1,213 still need to be recruited. 

“The programme’s managing authority reports that the discrepancy is mainly due to the high number of successful candidates who withdraw their availability once they are called up to take up their posts,” explains Fitto in his reply. There would therefore appear to be a nationwide breakdown, a perfect example of an inability to utilise funds that combines Structural Funds (ERDF) and the Recovery Fund in a cycle that is even more than just vicious. This situation, according to representatives of the Five Star Movement, “risks compromising the administrative capacity of the regions concerned precisely in the crucial phase of the NRRP’s implementation.” 

Fitto tries to reassure: “The Commission has been informed by the Italian authorities of the additional measures planned to ensure the final target of 2,200 people recruited is met, including the launch of an additional recruitment process and an assessment of the interest in recruiting candidates with a different profile to that initially required,” in an effort not to waste funds and to deliver results. In any case, “the Commission will closely monitor the implementation of these measures.” The fact is that Italy is in difficulty, is already behind schedule, and must now act swiftly.