«The Pnrr is centralist. Rewriting it is now impossible, but it must be corrected »- Corriere.it

«The Pnrr is centralist.  Rewriting it is now impossible, but it must be corrected »- Corriere.it


Of Cesare Zapperi

The president of Friuli-Venezia Giulia: there are strong differences between the Regions. The model desired by the Conte II government cuts us off from individual projects



President, the confrontation on the Pnrr is raging. Are you asking for changes too?


"It is inevitable. Compared to when it was launched - replies the governor of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga - the national and international situation, between war and energy crisis, has completely changed. The Pnrr cannot be ideologised but adapted so that it responds to the need to favor the development of the country».

What knots to untie?

"The indicated time horizon (2026) is such that it has led to the exclusion of some strategic infrastructural works such as speeding up the Venice-Trieste line".

How can this be remedied?

"There should be exceptions on the implementation times for some specific projects".

But that's another more relevant criticism, isn't it?

«The Pnrr was built with a strongly centralist imprint. Not with a pyramid model, with the central State that sets the objectives and the Regions that adapt them to the needs of the territories, but with all the choices descended from above, completely cutting off our institutions".

And what does this entail?

«Centralized tenders, unilateral choices, territorial inhomogeneities. Here, unacceptable differences between Regions have emerged ».

Give an example.

«My Region is in last place for per capita funds. Other realities had 600 percent more. It is clear that a rebalancing is needed ».

Is this why you said in recent days that "there are no Serie A areas and Serie B areas"?

«The numbers speak for themselves. I also made it known to the government ».

Did you talk about it with Minister Raffaele Fitto?

"Certain. He took note of the problem, which we underlined as Regions not individually, and told us that he will do everything possible ».

It shouldn't be difficult to dialogue with a "friendly" government.

«In fact, Fitto is sensitive to the requests we have made. It is clear, however, that he too arrived during the game. That centralist setting of the Pnrr was given by the Conte II government ».

Realistically, what can be achieved?

“We are aware that the room for maneuver at this point is limited. However, we expect some corrections ».

No rewrite?

«We have to move within the scope of the possible. We ask for an overhaul, not a rewrite. I think it is also in Europe's interest that the funds made available serve the development of the country and are not lost or wasted".

Is the debate on whether and how to change the Pnrr by any chance wasting precious time?

"Ninth. She goes ahead ».

Is everything in order in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

«The system is such, it applies to us as well as to the other Regions, that we are excluded from the possibility of constant monitoring. So we are not entitled to enter the individual projects that are entrusted to Municipalities, Universities, local authorities. We intervene if we get involved, but there's no obligation to do so."

His Venetian colleague Luca Zaia proposes setting up a sort of national "purse" into which unspent resources can be channeled to be reassigned to those who can use them.

«I believe that, first of all, the territories with critical issues must be helped so that they can overcome them. If it fails, the resources should be redeployed. Let's not forget that it's borrowed money..."

The bill on differentiated autonomy ran into an "accident" in the Senate. What did you think?

«I'd like to discuss the merits with those who argue that disparities between territories would increase. It is not true. Meanwhile, if a Region does not want to have other functions, it can remain as it is now. Would not change a thing. But, above all, it is not clear that Autonomy allows you to shorten distances. If there is a gap, it is due to centralism. A model that holds back the South, which lacks neither the skills nor the skills to keep up with the rest of the country».

We close with the drama of Emilia-Romagna. Is it right to assign the role of commissioner to President Bonaccini?

«In principle, having said that in the specific case it is not for me to decide but for the government, it is good that the president of the Region has an important role, he must be a leading protagonist because he has knowledge and direct contact with the territory".

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May 23, 2023 (change May 23, 2023 | 21:19)



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