Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, in a written answer to MEPs Danilo Della Valle and Valentina Palmisano on 19 June 2026, acknowledged delays in hiring 2,200 experts for public authorities in southern Italy under the 'Coesione Sud' competition but attributed the shortfall primarily to a high number of selected candidates withdrawing after being called into service. The answer, responding to a parliamentary question submitted on 15 April 2026, marks the Commission's first detailed public account of the recruitment drive's status.
Fitto stated that as of 14 April 2026, 987 persons had been hired and entered service out of 1,394 shortlisted candidates. The managing authority of the Capacity for Cohesion National Programme, which co-finances the competition via the European Regional Development Fund, reported that the gap is mainly due to withdrawals. The Commission is aware of the delays and is monitoring the situation, but the answer offered no new numerical targets or deadlines beyond existing commitments.
The question had warned that delays risked undermining administrative capacity for implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and cohesion policy, citing findings by the Court of Auditors. Fitto noted that the Commission supports Member States through free training on public procurement, state aid, and fraud prevention, as well as peer-to-peer exchanges. He also revealed that Italian authorities have planned additional measures to reach the 2,200 target, including a supplementary competition and verification of interest for hiring candidates with different profiles than initially requested. The Commission will closely monitor these steps.
The answer provides concrete figures but remains largely declarative on enforcement, reiterating existing support tools rather than announcing new sanctions or incentives. The policy orientation is one of continued monitoring and reliance on national-level remedies, with no indication of Commission-led intervention. Institutional follow-up is expected through ongoing dialogue with Italian authorities, with the next milestone being the completion of the supplementary competition.
Southern Italian public authorities face continued staffing gaps, potentially slowing NRRP and cohesion project delivery. EU taxpayers see no immediate mechanism to enforce hiring targets. The Italian government bears the primary responsibility for accelerating recruitment. The Commission's role remains facilitative, avoiding direct pressure on a member state.