Pasquale Tridico discusses EU cohesion funds and southern Italy's future in Crotone

On 18 July, Europarliamentarian Pasquale Tridico (M5S) hosted a public debate in Crotone’s Piazza Marinai d’Italia at 19:00. He was joined by journalist Michele Santoro and former national anti‑mafia prosecutor Federico Cafiero De Raho, with Antonella Grippo moderating. The event, titled “Power, truth and economy – who decides the future of the South in Europe today,” focused on the role of the European Council in shaping policies that affect Calabria, especially cohesion funding, the EU budget for 2028‑2034, and the digital euro.

Tridico warned that decisions made in Brussels could compress cohesion resources, leaving the region – described as “the last of the 240 European regions” – at risk. He linked economic stagnation to the spread of organised crime, arguing that anti‑mafia measures must be integrated into economic policy. He called for EU cohesion funds to remain anchored to territories that need them most and urged Italy to defend this position in upcoming EU budget negotiations. “Ho scelto Crotone perché è la Calabria vista al microscopio,” he said, emphasizing the town’s symbolic relevance.

The gathering aimed to bridge local concerns with European institutions, stressing that the future of the Mezzogiorno depends on transparent, region‑focused decisions at the highest EU levels.