EU fondsen voor de bestrijding van de georganiseerde misdaad in Zuid-Italië (en)

IP/09/1856

Brussels, 1 December 2009

Major support from EU funds helps fight against organised crime in Italy

Pawel Samecki i , the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will today announce details of the European Union's major contribution in support of the fight against organised crime in southern Italy. The EU cohesion policy will invest €64 million on re-developing property seized from the mafia in the 2007-2013 period. This follows a successful pilot project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which contributed €11 million for the conversion of 50 former mafia properties into educational, agri-tourism or other legal business ventures.

"One of the major impediments to economic development in parts of the Mezzogiorno is the all-pervading shadow of organised crime. I am proud to show the other side of the story - that of how backing from EU funds is helping Italy to support initiatives to transform seized assets, creating new jobs, particularly for young people, and providing hope in areas long blighted by high unemployment and criminality," said Commissioner Samecki .

Organised crime holding back economic development

As one of the foremost obstacles to development in the region, eradicating organised crime is a pre-condition for boosting productivity and attracting much needed investment to the south of Italy. At a press conference in Brussels today, Commissioner Samecki and Italian experts will explain how the cohesion policy is helping to support the authorities in their battle against the mafia.

The EU is co-financing a multi-regional 'Security for Development' programme worth €1.2 billion over the period 2007-2013 (€579 million from the ERDF). Its chief aim is to strengthen security in the four regions of southern Italy (Calabria, Campania, Apulia and Sicily). Of this total, €91 million (€45.5 ERDF) will be spent on projects to convert former mafia lands and property. A further €36.5 million (€18.25 ERDF) will be channelled for the same purpose through regional programmes.

EU backing for significant success stories

Lucio Guarino, head of the "development and legality" association in Sicily, and Giovanni Allucci, managing director of "Agrorinasce", a company in Campania specialising in territorial innovation, will tell of their experiences in working on re-development projects. They will be joined at today's press conference by Nicola Izzo, Deputy Head of the Italian Police Force, and Antonio Maruccia, Special Commissioner responsible for managing properties seized from criminal organisations.

They will highlight projects including:

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  The “Giardino della memoria” (Garden of Remembrance) in San Giuseppe Jato (Palermo), developed on land seized from the notorious Giovanni Brusca, jailed for life on more than 100 counts of murder, including the brutal killing of Giuseppe Di Matteo. The son of a police informant, 15-year-old Di Matteo was strangled after 779 days of captivity and his body dissolved in acid, on Brusca's orders. The garden is now a children's playground and place of remembrance for young victims of mafia crimes. The total cost of investment was €931,000 (50% from the ERDF).
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  The "Terre di Corleone" agricultural centre and tourism farm in Corleone (Palermo), built on land which once belonged to Salvatore Riina, the man known as the "boss of bosses". Responsible for the murder of three judges, two local politicians and others engaged in the anti-mafia fight, Riina is serving multiple life sentences. The total cost of investment amounted to €606,292 (50% from the ERDF);
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  The "Centopassi" winery, built on a 17 000 square metre estate in San Cipirello (Palermo). Every bottle produced there is dedicated to a victim of the mafia. The land was seized from Giovanni Genovese, who was jailed in 2007 for extortion and other criminal activities. The total cost of investment was almost €426,000 (50% from the ERDF);
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  The "San Marcellino" multi-purpose youth centre in Casalesi (Campania) built on land seized from Giorgio Marano, former head of the Camorra organisation, who was jailed in 2008. The centre provides educational and recreational activities for young people. It also now hosts the local police headquarters. The total cost of investment was €516,000 (50% from the ERDF).

These projects are a vivid reminder that the tough confiscation policy of the Italian authorities is paying dividends - on both an economic and social level. These ventures demonstrate to the local population that it is possible to develop legal and successful businesses. New social and educational facilities are also helping to provide young people with an alternative to a life of crime.

Background

Italy is the third largest beneficiary of the European Union’s cohesion policy after Poland and Spain. Between 2007 and 2013, Italy will benefit from investment of €28.8 billion of which €21.9 billion comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and €6.9 billion from the European Social Fund (ESF).

In addition Italy also receives EU funding worth €8.29 billion from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and €0.42 billion from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

For more information on European cohesion policy in Italy:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/italia/