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Nine initiatives worth 175 million euros to create a new economy in Taranto and Sulcis Iglesiente with the Just transition fund. The path financed with European funds for the relaunch of the two areas in crisis is starting to take shape, albeit with a little delay. The map of this process which puts 1 billion and 211 million on the table distributed between the south-western area of Sardinia (to which 367 million go) and Taranto is partly traced in the new website dedicated to the program for the just transition for the two areas of Italy.
A game worth 175 million
The first step already includes, in addition to the first notice regarding Sulcis and an 80 million euro plan, also the calendar of invitations for the programs with which we will begin to operate. For the moment there are nine, six in Sulcis and three in Taranto. The overall amount, initially just over 110 million euros, became 175 million «because, within the environmental reclamation program – explains Daniele Reginali, municipal councilor of Iglesias and member of the JTF supervisory committee – it was decided to concentrate all the resources, equal to 80 million euros, in 2024 rather than diluting them over the years. It is no coincidence that the first notice intended for the reclamation of the sites to be reconverted includes this figure”. JTF resources must be spent by 2026. Or at least, as Reginali underlines, «the projects must be started. Once the work has started there is space to ask for a possible extension of time” claims the councilor.
The measures intended for Sulcis Iglesiente
The measures intended for Sulcis include two tenders (the opening and closing hypothesis is March-May) for the “Promotion of the use of renewable energy”. The first of 750 thousand euros is intended for the public administration, consortia that own or manage buildings in agreement with the local or regional administration, in-house bodies, entities responsible for managing infrastructure and services. The second of 400 thousand euros is intended for citizens, including those gathered in associations, members of renewable energy communities, public-private partnerships.
Also on the table is an invitation, worth 11 million euros for the energy efficiency of companies.
Retraining and support for workers
In addition to the 80 million (expected period March April) allocated to public administrations for the reclamation and redevelopment of land, there are also resources for training. Between May and June a six million euro notice will arrive to finance “up-skilling and re-skilling paths for the unemployed, the unemployed and workers at risk due to the transition; investments in technical training and higher education; strengthening of services for job search and new business creation; active inclusion of people looking for work”. The recipients of these resources are accredited training agencies, unemployed and subjects at risk of unemployment due to the transition, young people at risk of dropping out of school and who have already dropped out of school involved in contexts, mostly family, affected by the transition process and by train towards green jobs.
Another two million euros (opening and closing period expected between May-June) are earmarked for “Services for reconciling work and family to increase activity rates”. In this case the beneficiaries are the “Municipalities of the area or their aggregations, the associations and subjects involved in the transition and the women affected by the transition”.