First Choices of Programming in Matter of Support to Productive Systems in ERDF ROP 2014-2020 in Southern Italy

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the draft of the ERDF Operational Programmes 2014-2020 of Southern regions, for a critical assessment of the allocation decisions regarding support to productive systems, with the aim of outlining, if possible, a regional industrial policy. Using the classification for «code» of the European regulations, the types of action of ROP have been connected to the Thematic Objectives contained in the Agreement Partnership, thus making comparable various programmes. Programme priorities of each region were compared both among them and in reference to the guidelines of the Partnership Agreement, realizing then a specific study on the Thematic Objectives 1 and 3 referred to the priority «Research and Innovation» and «Competitiveness of enterprises». This paper shows, firstly, that the regions have actually done real planning, not merely a mechanical application of the guidelines of the PA, but they have tried to adapt and modify it according to local needs and priorities. However, planning actually focused on a few priorities, and, above all, able to bring southern productive system out of crisis as its primary objective, emerges only partially. Limited available resources will make those Smart Specialisation Strategies that each region will have to adopt, and that are the basis not only for the preparation, but especially for the implementation of National and Regional Operational Programmes (NOP and ROP), even more important. This represents an indispensable basis for understanding abilities, potentials and especially future development trends of each territory, thus using in the best way available resources.