Not so Great Pompei Project

One of the most visited archaeological sites in the world, Pompei - in southern Italy near Naples - is at once a testament to the destructive power of volcanism (the site was engulfed by burning pumice and ash in 79 CE) and the complexity and sophistication of Roman civilization. 

Sadly however Pompei has suffered from mismanagement and corruption over the years, notwithstanding its importance to Italy in historical and economic terms. In an effort to counter the effects of this mismanagement, which include collapsed arches and sagging walls, in 2012 the European Union pledged EUR78 million in support of the grandiosely named "Great Pompei Project." However, as recently reported by Reuters, the funding commitment runs out at the end of December 2015, and to date only 20 percent of the money has been spent.

Faced with the prospect of losing tens of millions of Euros, managers overseeing the project are ramping up their restoration and preservation work, for example by hiring 20 additional technicians to work at the site.

While it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck with the EU to extend the deadline by which funds must be used, the poor planning which led to this flurry of last minute activity hardly leaves one confident in local authorities' management skills, let alone the quality of the remedial work being done.