Italy's ZES program: few approvals in Abruzzo, push to expand north

In the first half of 2026 the Abruzzo region received only ten authorisations under the unified special economic zones (ZES) scheme, representing 2.4% of the national total. By contrast, Campania and Puglia accounted for more than 78% of the authorisations with 185 and 148 respectively. The Uil Abruzzo trade union called for a stronger regional strategy to attract investment, improve infrastructure, and link industrial, training, energy and innovation policies to create stable jobs, competitive wages and safer workplaces.

Legacoop Romagna backed ABI president Antonio Patuelli’s proposal to extend the ZES model—currently applied in southern regions such as Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Molise, Abruzzo and, from November 2025, Marche and Umbria—to the depress‑marked areas of central‑north Italy. The union highlighted that ZES have cut bureaucratic procedures at no cost to the central state and contributed to a 0.6% GDP growth and a 1.5% employment rise in the South in 2025, outpacing national averages. The group urged faster renewable‑energy authorisations and the removal of ideological taboos that hinder broader adoption.