Sicily opposes centralization of European cohesion funds

Sicilian President Renato Schifani has voiced opposition to the potential centralization of European funds under the proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. Speaking at a Confindustria meeting, Schifani emphasized the need to defend territorial governance and ensure that the real value of cohesion resources does not decrease due to inflation and expenditure reclassification.

While the European Commission's proposal allocates approximately 78.3 billion euros to Italy—nominally equivalent to the 2021–2027 cycle—Schifani warned of a real contraction in available resources. He argued that cohesion policy should be treated as a structural investment tool with high multiplier effects rather than a mere spending mechanism.

To prepare for the new European architecture, the Sicilian Region has begun drafting its own regional chapter. The goal is to produce a first draft by October, coordinating needs from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) with agricultural and fishing policies through a multi-level governance model.