Prepared by Guido Ajello, Claudio Costantino and Gabriella Galioto
European Union has responded to the pandemic crisis with the Next Generation Eu (“NGEU”), covered in earlier newsletters of 20 April and 3 May 2021, putting in field significant resources to revive growth, investments and reforms for a total amount of EUR 750 billion.
With the approval of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (“NRRP” or “Plan”), EUR 204,5 billion have been allocated for Italy, of which EUR 191,5 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (“RRF”) and EUR 13 billion under the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (“REACT-EU”); on 13 August 2021, European Commission has disbursed a first pre-financing for a total amount of EUR 24.9 billion.
To these resources is added the National Complementary Fund (“NCF”), established by Decree Law no. 59 of 6 May 2021, (converted with amendments by Law no. 101 of 1 July 2021), aimed at financing specific actions that can integrate and complete the Plan and pursue the related priorities and objectives, with a total allocation of EUR 30,62 billion to be invested in the time frame between 2021-2026.
For the management of the projects contained in the Plan, the Ministry of Economy and Finance – State General Accounting Department (“MEF”) has issued the Circular no. 21 of 14 October 2021, containing the technical instructions to the selection of NRRP Projects (“Technical Instructions”), aimed at supporting central administrations in the implementation of their interventions coherently with the objectives of the Plan.
More in detail, MEF has provided basic guidelines on minimum requirements to be respected in the activation of the procedures for the selection and execution of the interventions, foreseeing the common elements for the preparation of public notices and financing laws, as well as for the launch of projects and inviting the Administrations:
- to identify eligibility requirements and any causes of exclusion, attributable to the implementing body and/or to the project proposal, whose failure to satisfy may lead to a critical issue with an impact on the process of implementation of the initiative, as well as in the related control and reporting phase;
- to provide useful information on the implementation processes that can be included in the appropriate sections of the project selection procedures (i.e., in administrative documents of various kinds, including ministerial decrees and tenders).
Relevant Ministries have implemented the first investments under the resources described above, of which we highlight the major notices related to some of the six missions characterizing the Plan.
With this first selection, we intend to start a continuous updating on the financing measures that, from time to time, will be published by the implementing body and that will be covered in the next publications of the outlook “Government & Public Sector”.
Mobility as a service for Italy
The Ministry for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition (“MTID”) and the Ministry of the Infrastructures and Sustainable Mobility (“MISM”) have published a notice to implement the sub-investment 1.4.6 “Mobility as a service for Italy” aimed at promoting “Mobility as a Service” (“MaaS”) solutions, that require the integration of multiple public and private transport services, accessible by the user through a single digital channel.
More in detail, the initiative aims to promote data sharing, reusability and interoperability of transport systems starting from large metropolitan cities where the implementation of solutions MaaS could generate greater benefits.
To this end, can submit an application within the 29 October 2021, 3:00 p.m:
- Capital municipalities that are part of metropolitan cities ex Law no. 56 of 7 April 2014;
- Capital municipalities that are part of metropolitan cities established in Regions with a special status.
Modernization and upgrading of regional railway lines
With Decree of 29 September 2021, the MISM has determined how to use the resources for financial exercises 2020-2026 of a total amount of EUR 1,55 billion under the NCF, destinated for the following interventions:
- securing regional railway lines;
- implementation of regional railway lines;
- implementation and renovation of train rolling stock;
- implementation of railway lines and implementation and/or renovation of train rolling stock.
More in detail, the MISM has allocated an amount of EUR 1.257,93 million to southern regions and resources for EUR 292,07 million to the central-north regions, establishing a specific time schedule of the activities that the beneficiaries, even though implementing bodies, must follow in order to avoid withdrawal of the contribution.
Port infrastructure interventions program
With Decree no. 330 of 13 August 2021, the MISM has approved the program related to port infrastructure interventions, synergic and complementary to the NRRP, that the related implementing bodies must realize in accordance with the procedures set out in Legislative Decree no. 50 of 18 April 2016, as well as with the timing referred in the above-mentioned Decree.
Among the main interventions, the following should be noted:
- “Development of maritime accessibility and resilience of port infrastructure to climate change”, for a total amount of EUR 1.470 million, of which EUR 687,70 million for southern regions and EUR 782,30 million for central-north regions. The related contracts must be awarded within the 31 December 2023 and the interventions must be completed with testing within the 31 December 2026;
- “Selective increase in port capacity” for an amount of EUR 390 million, of which EUR 119,35 million for southern regions and EUR 270,65 million for central-north regions. The related contracts must be awarded within the 31 December 2023 and the interventions must be completed with testing within the 30 June 2026;
- “Last / Penultimate Rail / Road Mile” for a total amount of EUR 250 million, of which EUR 40 million for southern regions and EUR 210 million for central-north regions. The related contracts must be awarded within the 31 December 2023 and the interventions must be completed with testing within the 31 March 2026.
Innovation Ecosystems
With Decree no. 204 of 29 September 2021, Territorial Cohesion Agency has published a notice related to the promotion of research and development samples, in order to develop innovative ideas and solutions within innovation ecosystems such as places of contamination and collaboration between universities, research centers, the private sector, civil society and institutions.
The measure intended to promote – with a financial endowment of EUR 350 million under the NCF – projects aimed at creating material infrastructures or regenerating abandoned ones to develop of highly qualified human capital, multidisciplinary research, as well as the creation and attraction of innovative companies.
Research organizations, in cooperation with each other and/or with local authorities, companies and other public or private entities, in a minimum number of three, can apply within the 12 November 2021, 12.00 p.m.
The project proposal – including the description of the activities at high knowledge intensity, the characteristics of the infrastructure, any redevelopment interventions, the expected benefits in terms of economic impact and any synergies with other entities – must have a maximum duration of 36 months for an investment amount between EUR 10 million and EUR 90 million.
The eligible costs include:
- costs of buildings and land intended to host the activities (including the costs of recovery, renovation, redevelopment and expansion of the buildings, as well as the costs of sales and commercial conditions);
- costs of machinery, tools, equipment and related plants, including patent rights, licenses, know-how or other forms of intellectual property.
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PwC TLS Avvocati e Commercialisti
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PwC TLS Avvocati e Commercialisti
Director