by InTrieste
In a move underscoring the agility of European funding frameworks, the regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has reallocated over €10 million to support local development, with nearly half earmarked to boost business efficiency and sustainability.
Barbara Zilli, the region’s finance councillor, announced the measure on Saturday following the regional cabinet’s approval of a revised financial plan for the 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund (FESR) program. The adjustment, which Zilli herself proposed, aims to address delays in the EU’s mid-term review process, which has postponed the disbursement of a flexible funding tranche worth €54.8 million originally expected in 2025.
“In the face of this delay, we’ve chosen to act now,” Zilli said. “Thanks to the flexibility of European programming, we can redirect more than €10 million to maintain momentum on key territorial initiatives.”
The regional government will repurpose €10.2 million in savings—primarily from a renewable energy funding call—to ensure continuity for projects already in the pipeline. Of that amount, €4.3 million will be used to fast-track two initiatives initially scheduled for the second half of 2025: one targeting energy upgrades in private enterprises, and the other promoting investments in the circular economy.
Though the original renewable energy program yielded total savings of around €13.3 million, officials have so far reprogrammed only part of that sum, prioritizing the most urgent needs. Remaining funds may be allocated later, depending on emerging priorities and the eventual outcome of the postponed mid-term review.
The decision reflects a broader regional strategy to fortify local businesses while accelerating the shift toward greener economic models—an approach Zilli said “balances responsibility with opportunity.”
