The Community Support Framework (CSF) is the document approved by the European Commission, in agreement with the Member State of interest, on the basis of the evaluation of the Plan presented by the Member State itself. The CSF contains data on the starting situation, strategies, action priorities, specific objectives, financial plan and implementing conditions. The CSF is articulated into priority axes and implemented through one or more Operational Programmes.
In Italy the drafting process of such documents dates back to December 1998 and was co-ordinated by Ministry of Economy and Finance. The involved actors were: Regions, national public Administrations, local bodies, social and economic stakeholders.
The process lead to the following documents:
- Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy) Development Plan (MDP - pdf, 251 kb)
The document is available only in Italian
- Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs)
- Sectoral Operational Programmes (SOPs)
The 2000-2006 CSF for Ob. 1 Regions of Italy includes 7 ROPs (Regional Operational Programmes) e 7 SOPs (Sectoral Operational Programmes).
Under the Objective 1 are the lagging behind Regions, where the GDP per head is at or below 75% of the Community average. The Italian regions eligible under Objective 1 are Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardegna e Sicilia. The region Molise shall continue to receive support from the Funds under Objective 1 on a transitional basis (phasing out area).
The 2000-2006 CSF for the Italian Regions under Objective 1 was approved by the European Commission on 1 August 2000, with Decision No. C (2000) 2050 (pdf, 87 kb).
Pursuant to the Art. 14, par. 2, of the Regulation (EC) 1260/99, on the general provisions for Structural Funds, the mid-term evaluation of 2000-2006 CSF for Ob. 1 took place in 2004. The new text of the reformed CSF was approved with Decision No. C (2004) 4689 by the European Commission on 30 November 2004.
Download the 2000-2006 CSF for Objective 1 (documents available only in Italian):
Aims
the social-economic delay of the Mezzogiorno Regions of Italy in accordance with the Development Strategy. (pdf, 228 kb) (IT).
The CSF general Objective is:
- to reach, within the implementation period of CSF, a development pathway for the Mezzogiorno to be maintaned constantly higher than the European Union standards
- to reduce social hardship
CSF Funds
The action measures envisaged by the CSF are co-financed by the Community Structural Funds and national public and private financing. For the 2000-2006 programming period the European Structural Funds are four:
- ESF: the European Social Fund
- ERDF: the European Regional Development Fund
- EAGGF: the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
- FIFG: the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance
Italy’s 2000-2006 Community Support Framework Ob.1 
