Assisted Area Agreement (Art. 2 of Law No 662/1996)

Coverage extends to temporary and exceptional cases of industrial crisis; underdeveloped areas, mainly in the central and southern regions of Italian Centre-South (e.g. Molise, Umbria, Lazio, Calabria, Sicily); and zones undergoing major industrial restructuring (e.g. Sardinia, Campania, Puglia).

This support mechanism enhances integration between economic development, social cohesion and public investment. It fosters local development and creates new jobs through a number of highly complementary actions. Company proposals for accessing it must specify, in detail, all relevant interventions and investments. They must also include a financial plan.

National government
Funding by the Interministerial Economic Planning Committee (Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica, Cipe).

Regional/local government
Territorial reference; local authorities cooperate with social partners and other actors in defining the assisted area agreement.

Employers' or employees' organisations
Social partners cooperate with local authorities and other actors in defining the assisted area agreement and specific development policies.

Other
Local associations and public authorities act as promoter; European funding.

European Funds

National funds

According to the Ministry of Economic Development, at the end of 2009, there were 18 assisted area agreements in Italy. Their programmes should be finished by the end of 2014.

A key strength is that this support is more operational than Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs).

Weaknesses relate to difficulties in moving from the formulation of objectives and strategies to their implementation.

Examples can be found in Molise, Umbria (Terni-Spoleto), Lazio (Viterbo-Tarquinia), Calabria (Gioia Tauro), Sicily (Messina), Sardinia (in the areas of Sassari-Alghero, Porto Torres, Sulcis-Iglesiente and Ottana); Campania (Aiola, Avellino, Salerno, and Tornese Stabiese); and Puglia (Manfredonia).

Department of Development and Economic Cohesion, Ministry of Economic Development: www.sviluppoeconomico.gov.it.

Coletto, D. and Pedersini, R. National background paper Italy. Anticipating and managing restructuring in enterprises: 27 national seminars, ARENAS Report. Brussels, European Commission, 2009; www.sviluppoeconomico.gov.it.