A dedicated programme for municipalities across Piedmont to strengthen skills, tools and access to European funding opportunities. This is the objective of “European Pathways. Piedmont Municipalities Designing for Europe”, the initiative launched by ANCI Piemonte and Fondazione CRT and presented today at the Foundation’s Salone d’Onore in Turin, with the participation of Paolo Zangrillo, Italy’s Minister for Public Administration.
“The European Pathways project is part of a constantly evolving context, in which the ability of local authorities to access the opportunities offered by European programmes represents a key driver for territorial development,” said Paolo Zangrillo, Minister for Public Administration. “Supporting municipalities in developing new skills means fostering community growth and delivering increasingly efficient services to citizens and businesses. It is with this perspective in mind that initiatives have been promoted to enable local authorities to design projects, collaborate and attract resources with effectiveness and strategic vision. We have allocated resources to modernise workplaces, renewed recruitment procedures by providing support to small municipalities, strengthened training and initiated a cultural change in human resources management. Only by continuing along this path, through a shared commitment based on dialogue and cooperation, can we continue to create opportunities for the country’s growth.”
“Fondazione CRT acts as a bridge between the public and private sectors, and between the local and international dimensions,” said Anna Maria Poggi, Chair of Fondazione CRT. “We believe it is essential to invest in the skills and relationships that enable territories to plan and work together. At a crucial stage of European programming, EU programmes represent a strategic lever for local development, but they require stronger organisational capacities, vision and administrative expertise. This is why the pathway we are launching with ANCI Piemonte has a highly strategic value: it is not only about accessing resources, but about creating lasting conditions for development and collaborative ecosystems capable of addressing the major challenges of our time and bringing Europe closer to territories and communities.”
“Our municipalities possess an extraordinary wealth of ideas, but the bureaucratic complexity of European calls can be a barrier,” said Davide Gilardino, President of ANCI Piemonte. “With European Pathways, we want to break down these barriers. Networking is the only way to ensure that no one is left behind and that every European opportunity is translated into tangible services and infrastructure for our citizens, turning political vision into fundable projects.”
According to Ignazio Stefano Zanetta, Vice President for European Projects and International Cooperation at ANCI Piemonte, “the added value of this initiative lies in its methodology. International cooperation is no longer an option, but a structural necessity for territorial growth. Through mentoring and tailored support, we aim to enhance local strengths by connecting them with cutting-edge networks, as demonstrated by the success stories of small and medium-sized municipalities that have already established themselves at the European level.”
The project is structured around three operational phases: specialised training providing practical knowledge directly applicable to the daily work of local authorities; a co-design phase focused on real funding calls, with support in developing applications; and finally, assistance in establishing internal “Europe officers” within local administrations, capable of ensuring continuity in local development policies and fostering strategic partnerships.
With regard to the operational phase, the launch event also announced that the programme will be open to ten municipalities selected across the region. The municipalities will be chosen through a dedicated call for applications. Eligibility criteria and application forms are available at www.anci.piemonte.it
