Brevi riflessioni in tema di governance plurilivello e aggregazione funzionale fra soggetti pubblici e privati. Il caso dei Fondi strutturali

This paper deals with both the legal and the conceptual basis of the structural funds as a means of economic development in the European area. In the first part, the article analyses the development of the cooperation between territorial authorities. It also highlights an example of territorial cooperation such as the European grouping of territorial cooperation. Furthermore, the article examines the principle of solidarity in the European Union in the perspective of the (possible) protection of social rights. It underlines, finally, the relationship between structural funds and local authorities and the relevance of the territorial dimension in implementing the economic, social and territorial principle as a concrete effort to reduce disparities between the different European regions.