Politica di coesione fondi strutturali e criminalità organizzata

European cohesion policy is realised through Structural Funds. Current programming 2007-2013 has a budget of €347 billions, 34% of EU budget. €201bn are for the ERDF, €76bn for the ESF, and €70bn for the Cohesion Fund. Italy receives €28,8bn, Calabria receives €3 bn, meaning 428 millions average per year (EU 2012). When exploited in efficient and effective way, SF produce a considerable impact on territorial development, as in Andalusia, Spain. When appropriate management, investment on infrastructures and capacity building is in place, the socio-economic scene changes in the medium term. Territorial governance is key to success (ESPON 2013). This is not occurring in Calabria. 'Ndrangheta (Calabria's mafia) does not seem to be interested in taking advantage of SF money. The annual turnover of 'ndrangheta is around €44 billions, obtained through criminal activities like drug, smuggling, extorsion, trafficking etc. (Eurispes 2008). Those criminal activities generate tax-free black money. Participating to the SF calls, managing and reporting results and expenditure to the financing entities requires specific skills and administrative burden. 'Ndrangheta creates obstacles and slows to the use of SF by independent third parties since it has an interest in mantaining socio-economic underdevelopment in Calabria, in order to control territory and economic dynamics. Technical assistance and highly-qualified staff providing support to stakeholders increase Territorial capital (ESPON 2012) and are key to success in the management of SF. By means of SF, in particular using extensively the ESF for capacity building of local entities' staff and stakeholders, 'ndrangheta bottle neck could be bypassed.