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In recent years, the convergence between European Cohesion Policies and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP/PNRR) has represented Italy’s most significant opportunity for economic and social revitalization since World War II. The primary goal has not only been GDP growth, but the reduction of territorial, generational, and gender divides.
Where does Italy stand regarding cohesion and social inclusion?
The Pillars of Cohesion in the NRRP
The social dimension permeates the entire structure of the NRRP, finding its fullest expression in Mission 5 (“Inclusion and Cohesion”) and Mission 6 (“Health”), integrated with resources from EU Cohesion Funds (ESF+ and ERDF):
- Territorial Rebalancing: The cross-cutting rule allocating 40% of resources to Southern Italy (the Mezzogiorno) to reduce the historical North-South gap.
- Active Labor Market Policies: The modernization of employment services and the inclusion of youth, women, and vulnerable individuals.
- Social Infrastructure and Local Healthcare: The enhancement of local care and the regeneration of suburbs and inner areas.
Key Achieved Results
- Labor Reform and the GOL Program
Through active policy reform, the GOL Program (Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori / Workers’ Employability Guarantee) has taken shape across the entire national territory. Hundreds of thousands of workers and unemployed individuals have accessed personalized training and digital reskilling pathways, strengthening the Employment Center network and improving the employability of the most vulnerable profiles.
- Local Healthcare and Home Care
Cohesion through health protection has seen the launch and development of the Community Health Center (Case della Comunità) and Community Hospital (Ospedali di Comunità) networks. Telemedicine and home care (“The home as the primary place of care”) have begun to ease congestion in the hospital network, ensuring continuity of care, especially for elderly and dependent people in rural or isolated areas.
- Urban Regeneration and Inner Areas
Through Integrated Urban Plans and interventions in marginalized municipalities, thousands of construction sites have been opened and completed, targeting:
- Redevelopment of public housing units.
- Creation of multipurpose centers and sports facilities in neglected neighborhoods.
- Combating educational poverty through the expansion of daycares and full-time school schedules.
- Compliance with the Southern Allocation Requirement
The commitment to reserve at least 40% of territorial investments for the South has been safeguarded through constant monitoring. Infrastructure works, the enhancement of connecting railways, and industrial cohesion measures (such as the Single Special Economic Zone / ZES Unica) have stimulated private investment and employment in southern regions.
Open Challenges
Italy stands among the European countries with the highest rate of formal progress in achieving the milestones and targets approved by the European Commission.
However, the true last-mile challenge goes beyond spending capacity.
- The Crucial Issue: Transforming newly built physical infrastructure into efficient, long-lasting services. Buildings, tools, and digital platforms require qualified personnel (doctors, social workers, trainers) to ensure that the impact on citizens’ lives remains permanent.
The synergy between the extraordinary resources of NextGenerationEU and the standard programming of Cohesion Policy represents the key to ensuring a fairer, more inclusive Italy that is closer to the needs of every territory.
Prof. Giuseppe Arnone