APCOM

EU Regional Policy commissioner Danuta Hubner considers Lombardia as a region-model in Europe for its integrated planning of structural funds, a 2.3 billion Euro package in the period 2007-2013 intended for competitiveness, employment, rural development and cross-border cooperation. She claimed it at the Pirellone, the region's headquarters, during a meeting with the president of Lombardia Roberto Formigoni, and invited to "spread it among the other European regions and share with them one's experiences and one's excellences."

Hubner, who attended a launch event for the new regional operational programme, sees in the Lombard planning of 2007-2013 European funds "a good beginning and a good strategy" and appreciates the close collaboration between the Italian region and the EU. According to the commissioner, Lombardia is an advanced region and in some way it is "unique within the European context as for its demographic growth and the high level of private investments in research and development", the former being defined by Hubner as a 'buttonhole' for Europe. In particular, the commissioner esteems "in a very positive way the fact that over 50% of funds is intended for boosting competitiveness through research and innovation, for energy and for sustainable mobility."

The regional plan appropriates 899 million to development, 532 million to competitiveness, 798 million to employment and 92 million to the cooperation between Italy and Switzerland. Formigoni explained that these programmes "are the result of a collaboration with Lombardia's institutional, financial and cultural moving spirits ". They develop "many actions which, although diversified, are conceived and realised through a unique integrated scheduling, and research as their main focus.

According to Formigoni, the near future offers two great chances, the 2015 Expo and the start of federalism, "two realities that will necessarily mingle with the European programmes." The Expo "could be an investment for Europe as well, and Lombardia is showing itself as a possible protagonist of a new phase of cooperation among the European regions." As for federalism, "it will ratify the increasingly strong role of regional governments" and it is a "key condition for development."