Italian regions push EU funds, industrial projects and local budgets

The city council of Rimini approved a multi‑year budget that earmarks about €21 million for strategic works, including the expansion of Federico Fellini airport, new public spaces and road maintenance. In a separate meeting, the presidents of Campania and Basilicata highlighted joint initiatives to mobilise EU structural funds for the automotive and aerospace sectors and stressed the role of regional assemblies in programme design. Basilicata’s governor Vito Bardi met with national ministers in Rome to discuss the region’s automotive crisis, oil‑and‑gas extraction and energy projects, noting the absence of union representatives. In Molise, regional deputies proposed a motion urging the creation of a permanent dialogue with trade unions around the ReneSys Energy lithium‑ion cell plant in Termoli, citing employment concerns. The shareholders of the Agenzia Area Nolana rejected Camposano mayor Francesco Barbato’s call for a public tender to appoint the agency’s sole administrator, reigniting a debate over merit versus political control. Finally, the council of Altofonte unanimously approved budget adjustments for the patron‑saint festival, social services and a national operational programme, while also calling for greater opposition involvement in municipal projects.