EU Funds: agreement between CDP and the Region of Sardinia for the management of €135 million for local development

Summary

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti will provide the regional administration with strategic support to increase the positive impact of resources from European programmes

Sustainable development, social inclusion, energy transition and the renewal of public spaces for communities are among the main goals pursued by the agreement

Confirming its closeness to local communities, at the signing Cassa Depositi e Prestiti also officially inaugurated its office in Cagliari

An innovative agreement to accelerate the use of available European and regional resources, maximising the benefits for Public Administrations, enterprises and Third Sector organisations operating for the sustainable development of the region: CDP and the Region of Sardinia are strengthening their partnership with the aim of directing investments towards projects with higher potential in order to foster the competitiveness of the production system, social inclusion and energy efficiency.

The new agreement signed today between the two Institutions calls for the Region to entrust Cassa Depositi e Prestiti with the management of approximately 135 million euros under the Programme financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for the 2021-2027 programming period. In line with its Strategic Plan, from this year Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is offering Regions an additional support service that underlies the agreement just signed, with the aim of increasing the spending capacity and absorption of financial resources at the local level.

This is an evolution of CDP’s operating model, thanks to which a single Administration may decide to be supported by the experts of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti in all phases of the process relating to the management of European and regional resources, from planning and project identification to reporting, monitoring and disbursement to entities or enterprises.

In order to broaden the positive impact on regional development, CDP will also involve the banking system and financial intermediaries, which will be selected through specially organised procedures.

Specifically, CDP will manage funds on behalf of the Region of Sardinia to support urban regeneration for the sustainable growth of local communities, social cohesion, the fight against inequalities and the energy transition towards renewable sources.

Confirming its closeness to the region and coinciding with the Sardinian stage of the CDP and Confindustria Roadshow, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti also officially inaugurated its office in Cagliari: a space dedicated to meetings and advisory activities to facilitate the sharing of projects with local stakeholders and tailor the range of services and tools in the most appropriate way to the different needs of companies and public administrations in the Region.

Gianluca Bisognani, Director of Public Administration, Advisory and Technical Competence Centres at CDP, stated: “The agreement signed with the Region of Sardinia represents a significant achievement resulting from the constructive dialogue we cultivate each and every day with public administrations throughout the country. The agreement makes it possible to fully seize the opportunities offered by EU programming, making the best possible use of European resources. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti will work alongside and in support of the Region to facilitate the effective investment of EU funds in the area, through technical and strategic assistance aimed at selecting high-impact projects for local communities, capable of generating tangible results and triggering a virtuous cycle for the social and production fabric.”

Giuseppe Meloni, Regional Councillor for Budget and Planning and Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, added: “The agreement with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti represents an important step to strengthen the Region of Sardinia’s capacity to efficiently and strategically use European resources available to the region. With this agreement, we are integrating tools and expertise that will enable us to support initiatives for social cohesion, the energy transition and the renewal of public spaces with the aim of generating concrete benefits for citizens, enterprises and local authorities. This is a collaborative model that combines the Region’s vision for sustainable development with the solidity of CDP, for the benefit of communities we aim to make stronger and more cohesive. It is a commitment that confirms the Region’s intention to make the use of European funds faster, more transparent and more effective, transforming the resources available into genuine results for the future of Sardinia.”