Twenty-three billion euros or, in the accounts of the European commissioner Elisa Ferreira, 2,200 euros per person. This is the amount that Portugal will receive from Brussels until 2029, within the framework of Portugal 2030. The collaboration agreement with the European Commission was signed this Thursday at Fundão. The amount is added to the €16.6 billion from PRR funds and the Common Agricultural Policy. In total, by 2030, around €50 billion will arrive in Portugal from Brussels.
It was with the current Government in Fundão that the agreement was signed by António Costa and Elisa Ferreira. The final version of the agreement was presented by Portugal to Brussels on June 6, after several months of “tough negotiations”, according to the prime minister. The first version of the agreement was delivered in March.
“The funds of Portugal 2030 and Portugal 2020, which ends in 2023, combine to offer a unique opportunity, based on multiple growth poles”, declared Elisa Ferreira, who argues that the value of the funds must serve to “liberate Portugal out of the middle income trap”.
“Portugal’s goal in the future must be to progress without needing these funds so much. They are a powerful means to help implement the envisioned vision for the country. This agreement was not designed in Brussels”, highlighted the European Commissioner.
To improve the effective use of European support, there are four principles, said Elisa Ferreira. First, the funds “must complement and not replace the normal investment of a country. Through them, additional public investments must be mobilized.” The second is ambition, since the funds must be a “lever for the qualitative leap that remains and not to prolong the status quo.” The third pillar is alliances and the fourth is rigor. “We have to be rigorous in the use of European resources and in accountability.”
According to the European Commission statement, the 23,000 million euros will serve to support the social, economic and territorial cohesion of the country until the end of the decade. “These funds will help develop a more diversified, innovative and competitive economy, strongly focused on the digital and green transition of the country, in line with the key priorities of the EU,” the note reads. The amount will be distributed among five funds: the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Fund for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, the European Social Fund Mais and the Just Transition Fund.
Of this amount, 11.5 billion euros will be related to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), of which 5.3 billion euros will be used to “strengthen the innovation and research ecosystem, digitize small and medium-sized enterprises and achieve a connection quick”. within the territory”.
The ERDF will also dedicate 5.5 billion euros to the implementation of the European Green Deal. The European Just Transition Fund will have 224 million euros to “help the Portuguese territories most affected by the climate transition to overcome its negative economic impacts”.
The package also includes the European Social Fund Mais will have 7,800 million euros to “improve access to the labor market”, through qualification programs. The EU also says €1.9bn will be invested in the autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira, of which €200m will be used to improve inter-island connections and transport infrastructure. There will also be €400 million to facilitate the ecological transition of fisheries and aquaculture.
Portugal is the fourteenth EU country to sign the new funds agreement with Brussels.
(In update)
Source: Observadora
