Regions who don't spend EU funds will be substituted -update

(ANSA) - Rome, November 4 - Cabinet Undersecretary Graziano Delrio said Tuesday local entities that deal irresponsibly with European Union funds will be substituted. "Whoever fails to spend EU funds will be substituted, (as will) whoever fails to act with honesty," Delrio said while presenting the 2014-2020 Partnership Agreement between the EU and Italy.
    Delrio went on to berate regional administrators who "use waivers and deferments to block funds for 10 years without investing them". Unused funds will be promptly invested in other projects, Delrio added. The government will place no limitation on the use of those funds, so regions "mustn't complain", he added.
    As well, Delrio said that as of October 31, regions had spent 62% of the EU funds allocated to them under the 2007-2013 Partnership Agreement.
    "We must make our EU target of 70% in the next month and a half," Delrio explained. "We risk losing those resources if we don't speed up investments, but I am confident" that will happen, the undersecretary said.