"The Regions are proceeding in no particular order on the selection criteria for the modernization of the mills, with the risk of undermining - in the name of even legitimate autonomy - the positive aspects of the plant built by the Ministry of Agriculture".
Manlius Cassander (in the picture), at the head of one of the most authoritative consultancy firms in the field of rural development tenders, the alarm bell rings on a situation that seems increasingly tangled.
Doctor Cassandro, where does this concern come from?
"From the awareness that different messages arrive from each region, often conflicting with each other".
Let's go in order. The Ministry has given macro-indications. Are they not enough?
"Not entirely. Mind you! The fact that the Ministry has recognized the need for a national mill modernization plan is a very important element, because it shows that it is understood that this sector is particularly behind. After all, just to make things clear, no similar interventions have been envisaged for either the dairy or canning sector. But in envisaging this action on the mills, the Ministry only gave macro rules, on which the Regions then gave vent to the most disparate selection criteria ".
Some examples?
“There are plenty of them. Meanwhile, there are Regions that consider certifications to be rewarding aspects and others that do not consider them a priority at all; then the minimum and maximum contribution ceilings on eligible expenditure are different from Region to Region with fluctuations ranging from a minimum value of 30 euros in Sardinia and a minimum value of 80 euros in Puglia to a maximum value of 1,5 million in Puglia to about 150 thousand euros in Basilicata. There are therefore regions that prefer rain-based interventions and others support more structured interventions. I would add: there are even Regions that have already issued the tenders, as in the case of Puglia which has set the deadline for submitting applications to June 30, and other regions such as Umbria, which has not even touched on a draft. Even on the contribution for businesses which should be 65% non-repayable as envisaged by the new aid card, we have to record fluctuations: from 50% in Puglia to 65% in Abruzzo ".
A juniper, in short!
"Exactly! From which one must, however, get out. I know that there are already those who have reported this chaos to the Ministry and that it has been understood that it is not possible to move in this way. I think it is appropriate for the same Ministry to convene the Regions, making them aware of uniforming the selection criteria as much as possible, perhaps indicating a vademecum on the aspects that had not been taken into consideration in the previous ministerial decree. Because the autonomy of the Regions is sacrosanct, but by creating this indecipherable mosaic, all those who in various ways are committed to supporting this desired innovation in a sector that badly needs it are seriously in difficulty”.
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