Sicily Exceeds EU Social Fund Spending Targets, Using €719.5 million

The Sicilian regional government has certified that it spent €719.5 million on the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014‑2020 programme, surpassing the €615 million budget allocated by the European Commission. Brussels approved the final implementation report, confirming the full utilisation of the funds with no financial disbursement.

The programme supported education, vocational training, social inclusion and labour policies, reaching roughly 213,000 beneficiaries – 53.5% women and 32.6% under 25. During the COVID‑19 emergency, the ESF was adapted to provide additional resources for workers, families, social services and the health system. Regional assessor for education and professional training Mimmo Turano hailed the result as a concrete achievement for Sicilian citizens and the regional economy.