Administrative capacity has been a significant challenge for the quality and timely implementation of ERDF programmes in Italy. Given that in the 2021-2027 programming period, the country has to triple its capacities to implement public investments from European funding and improve conditions for private investments, it is essential to concentrate efforts on strengthening capacities to design and manage ERDF programmes in 2021-27.
This assignment aimed to assist Italy’s less developed regions to programme measures to increase their administrative capacity. The service supported regional authorities in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily to assess their needs, prioritise and design measures to facilitate, simplify, and ultimately speed up the creation and implementation of project pipelines. The project was carried out in a participatory manner that focused on regions’ needs and capacities and considered the complementarity with other measures at the national and European levels.