WRITTEN QUESTION E-0642/04 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Threat to survival of Italian small communes.
Date: 2004-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Italy, administrative structures, cultural identity, heritage protection, rural development, rural settlement

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/645

(2004/C 84 E/0726)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0642/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject: Threat to survival of Italian small communes

Italy has 5 868 ‘piccoli comuni’, small communes with a population of less than 5 000, which constitute a
precious cultural and historical heritage.

These communes, though they lack any economic weight of their own, have behind them a deep-rooted
history and long-standing tradition and, as the first expression of organised civil society in Italy, have
accumulated the heritage of the thousand-year history of the country to a greater extent than any other
territorial unit, such as provinces and regions.

Nevertheless, due to their small size and in order to simplify and modernise administrative procedures,
many of these small communes are under threat of being incorporated into other municipalities and thus
disappearing.

However, it would seem necessary to protect and guarantee the identity, existence and full autonomy of
small communes and of their local communities in order to conserve the country’s rich cultural heritage,
to facilitate administrative decentralisation and to ensure that democratic principles are applied and
represented at local level.

Can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Are there EU programmes to support communes of less than 5 000 inhabitants, providing for
practical steps to help economic, agricultural, trade and crafts activities and to contribute to enhancing
their natural and historical-cultural heritage?

2. Are there any incentives to maintain the dwelling density of these communes, such as measures in
support of people moving house or their place of business for at least ten years to one of these
communes, or reimbursing families who have to pay school fees for their children?

3.

Is it possible to receive EU funding to set up innovative arrangements for the provision and
management of services that cannot necessarily be located in urban areas, such as small universities,
laboratories, museums, healthcare and sporting infrastructure and health services?

4. Can the Commission provide an opinion on the matter?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20. April 2004)

The EU supports socio-economic development programmes under the Structural Funds and rural
development programmes under the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). These
programmes provide the possibilities for among other things, financial support for local development
activities in small communes and villages. The purpose of local development activities is to maintain or
create economic activities linked to the agricultural sector, local industry and handicraft, service sector,
tourism, protection of the landscape and of natural and cultural resources, in order to provide training and
employment opportunities.

The programmes concerned exist in the different Italian regions. The responsibility for the day-to-day
management of the programmes including the selection of projects for financial support lies with the
central and regional authorities in the Member States.