Vincenzo Greco, Mayor of the Municipality of Termoli Giovanni Cannata, Dean of the Molise University

Vincenzo Greco, Mayor of the Municipality of Termoli Giovanni Cannata, Dean of the Molise University I would like to thank the Molise region and all the speakers who will give their addresses I would like to thank the Molise region for my presence here today. I am very pleased on the implementation of 2007-2013 programs on this day dedicated to programming. about the way you have entitled this conference, “Regionalizing” instead of The Termoli and Lower Molise areas have specific peculiarities which render them totally “Rationalizing”. I firmly believe that “rationalizing” is absolutely necessary; regionalizing different from the rest of the region. A concise view on the strategy which must focus on towards development as outlined in a book which was released a few day ago “Tra innovation, starting with the deep knowledge of the territory. It is necessary to globalizzazione e frammentazione“ (between globalization and fragmentation) which is a analyze strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities. In doing this, we have identified lucky coincidence given that exactly thirty years ago, the book by the urban sociologist, peculiar aspects in the Municipality of Termoli which go against trends compared to Ernaldo Bagnasco, was published with the title: ”Le tre Italie, la problematica territoriale the rest of the region: demographic dynamics which clash with the ageing process at dello sviluppo italiano” (The three Italys: the territorial question of Italian development). regional level and thus, the need to respond to a demand for goods and services aimed In fact, the territorial question of Italian development is an old theme, because over thirty at families and young people; high-density populated areas based on private business years ago, Stefano Jacini taught us that we have to think about the hundred rural “Italys” and an increased number of houses to the disadvantage of public areas. But also an and not only to one rural Italy. After then, our country began to conceive Italy in a increase in the factors of hydro-geologic risks deriving from industries and health risks prospective of regional differentiations. The route undertaken by the Cassa del related to urban agglomerates. A higher request for public areas to be dedicated to Mezzogiorno was the result of this rationalization about the diversified development and cultural events and socialization, and more in general a request for improved methods through which we could emerge from the differentiation. relationships between citizens and public administrations with reference to a diversified I am very glad that we have been discussing these themes and seeing that – using the communications of the services provided. institutional language – I am the representative of the instrumental autonomies, I act as We have tried to fulfil these needs through macro-projects in compliance with regional such here, thus giving my contribution to territorial development to the University directives. We believe that we have observed and interpreted the needs of the local of Molise, as the name of the university evokes. We must emphasize that this is a community so that Termoli can become a strategic promoter of the Lower Molise University for Molise owing to the close collaboration the university has established area. For this purpose, the Municipality of Termoli has played the key role in the with the regional institutions, a comparison which could generate many opportunities for realization of the Territorial Strategic Plan which refers to the Lower Molise area as a development. That is the reason why it should be named University for Molise. whole. The plan was and is considered to be excellent by regional officials and the These are two of the key words of this conference today: convergence and ministry. competitiveness which represent important visions. If I am allowed to take the stock of Policy must go beyond individual interests to the advantage of the community. the two words, I would say that the second is an input for the first. The first word There is the need for good policies focussing on people’s needs. encourages us to reason about the difficulties of transit to be faced, the second one pushes us to rationalize about future perspectives. My wishes to all of you for a good conference. This is one of the tools to be adopted is the 2007-2013 regional programming and I hope that the final version will be drafted as soon as possible. The sooner the programming plan is realized the better, given that the year 2007 is at an end. Mr Bagnasco’s lecture has encouraged us towards joint rationalization about territorial differentiations of development – territorial differentiations which, in the case of the Molise region, are clearly defined as Higher Molise, Lower Molise and central Molise, and has led us to think about how to equip ourselves to regionalize towards future development. As a university with regard to the hypothesis of development and collaboration, we should deal with training: training in the initial phase, training for life-long learning and development of research projects to help us look to the future with the historical wealth offered by this region with its noble traditions but at the same time, to be more farsighted compared to what we normally are. This is the commitment that the Nicola D’Ascanio, President of the Province of Campobasso university offers to the President of the Region and Councillor, Mr. Vitagliano. I do not think that convergence and competitiveness are two conflicting terms or that one is an alternative to the other, but often modernization leads us to favour competitiveness. I am convinced that political institutions have the mandate to allow these two concepts to flow into each other. They should encourage convergence and competitiveness. It is important that Local Entities are involved in the same issues on development. As I was saying before, the two terms must converge first of all because convergence means to uncover weaknesses and include them in the development processes so that they can be part of competitiveness. Otherwise, competitiveness can cause other differences and disadvantages. I refer not only to human or social weaknesses, but also to territorial weaknesses, such as depopulation, and marginalization of young people who cannot find answers to their needs. For this reason, I believe that the two terms are complementary. I am well-aware that this is an hard task which has to be carried out by following the logic of a rationalization of the resources, given that the age of the Cassa del Mezzogiorno is over when budgets were substantially liberal and not managed so as to determine deficit and therefore, public debt. Today, we have a greater responsibility as local entities and government because resources must be cleverly distributed and spent. This is the key task we have to carry out and I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to make this welcome address about a reasoning which I fully share with the words given by the Dean of the University of Molise. In fact, convergence means sharing in order to combat old and new centralisms because through sharing, the local entities and instrumental autonomies have the right to compete at institutional level to pursue objectives which are useful for our community. I believe that a small region like ours is not so tiny but is able to interact with Italy and the rest of the world. Michele Iorio, President of the Molise Region that going from rights to needs is like going from statistics to the real needs of the territory. The Molise Region condition presents a greater number of difficulties seeing that in the Regional System we suffer from badly managed services and from a I would like to thank all of you for your splendid and valuable participation as well as for difficult condition related to the small magnitude of the region. Those interested in the kind attention of the President of the Region Conference, Mr. Vasco Errani, who for the economy will understand that there is an unequal evaluation of the costs of services, the first time, has offered Molise the opportunity to be present on an occasion for an in- development and social and economic growth, because the number of users is low. depth analysis at this level and also at a formal meeting of the committee “Community Affairs”. I would also like to thank all the colleagues from the Italian regions for their A relevant consideration which I would like to highlight is the question of the book presence. copyright which will be given to charity. This event is very prestigious and represents an opportunity for sharing which involves Today, qualified referents are present and all the Molise region is represented. You are us all, particularly the Molise region. an important audience for future choices regarding joint integrated and coherent programming principally aiming to achieve welfare for citizens. I believe that this is also a rare occasion for discussing development policies with a focus on a particular aspect, “The third Italy”, defined as such because among all the key questions, it has resulted to be the third on the list in the long dispute regarding the development of Southern Italy and the North of Italy. To have such an important point of discussion with the contribution of all regions, is an extraordinary event. My task is to introduce today’s arguments. I am pleased to give the floor to the Vice-President of the Emilia-Romagna region, Mr. Delbono, who will present the book ”Povertà di che cosa”, thus concentrating on a key theme which for us will be a starting point for subsequent discussions: convergence and competitiveness, Italy between development and underdevelopment, inequalities of conditions, assessment of citizens problems.

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