While local investment of European Union funds hinges on the initiative and effectiveness of subnational regions and cities, the regions of European Union (EU) member states are relatively unrecognised actors in the European integration process.
For his thesis ‘The application of partnership in cohesion policy implementation: evidence from the programming of RPS 2021- 2027 in Tuscany’, Alberto Tognarelli set out to shed light on the role and effectiveness of Tuscany in its negotiations for EU funding. The focus of his research seemed tailor-made as a candidate for the third edition of the Regional Council of Tuscany’s thesis prize in honour of David Sassoli, which this year focused on ‘Europe, regions, and citizens’. In fact, Alberto, who received his laurea magistrale in European studies from the University of Florence in 2023, was among the five recent Tuscan graduates to receive the Premio Miglior Tesi Di Laurea “David Sassoli” in a ceremony on 30 January 2025.
Tuscany as regional actor: a focus on funding
To write his thesis, Alberto had to acquire a thorough technical understanding of how EU cohesion policy and funding are regulated at the regional level. He then proceeded to interview four of the regional officials who represented Tuscany in negotiations with the European institutions on the one hand, and civil society on the other, for the Regional Development and Cohesion Policy 2021-2027.
Alberto’s thesis demonstrates Tuscany’s strategic acumen in obtaining and implementing European investment. The advantage the region enjoys, according to Alberto, is in its well-established mechanisms for involving civil society in regional policy decisions, as required by the European institutions.
“Tuscany already had experience engaging with trade unions, employers associations and other kinds of NGOs. Since these civil society partners were already included in regional policy-making, it didn’t struggle to establish these networks as other regions have,” he explained. Moreover, “the region mobilised early to engage with European institutions though the Committee of Regions (CoR). It was also one of the first Italian regions to open an office in Brussels.”
Value added for the HAEU education programme
Alberto joined the Historical Archives’ education programme last year as a trainee, where he assists with teaching laboratories on European integration and European citizenship.
His work informs these teaching laboratories, because “it tells the story of what happens at the regional and civil society level, which is very close to citizens. Regions have an unrecognized role in European integration,” he said.
Photo: From left, Regional Councilor Fiammetta Capirossi, Alberto Tognarelli, Tuscany Regional Council President Antonio Mazzeo and Regional Councilor Andrea Vannucci. Photo by the Ufficio Stampa del Consiglio regionale della Toscana.