European Cohesion Policy: Regional Leaders Advocate for Decentralization

During a meeting of the Committee of the Regions' Cohesion Policy and Budget Commission (Coter) in Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga emphasized that regions must act as strategic partners within the European Union. Fedriga argued against the centralization of cohesion policies, stating that investing without considering territorial protagonism would be a grave error. He noted that regional management is essential for efficient spending and effective interventions, particularly as the EU transitions from the 2021–27 programming period to the 2028–34 period.

In a related development regarding cross-border cooperation, Regional Councilor for Finance Barbara Zilli reported that the Interreg Italy-Slovenia 2021–27 Program has exceeded its targets well ahead of schedule. The program has contracted projects valued at over 85.2 million euros, representing 103% of the initial budget when integrated with regional funds. Currently, 75 projects are active, including several strategic initiatives such as Adrioncycletour and Poseidone, demonstrating the effectiveness of European cohesion models in driving regional growth.