The reimbursement period to the beneficiary, for the purposes of eligibility of expenditure, within the scope of the operational and rural development programs of Portugal 2020 (PT 2020) It was extended until the end of August.
Initially, the end of this period was scheduled for December 31, 2023, but the Government decided to extend it until the end of August.
According to a diploma published this Wednesday in the Diário da República and a note released by the program, The framework for the implementation of operational programs and rural development programs for the period 2014-2020 has been adapted.”in order to provide Member States with additional flexibility in terms of execution and greater liquidity”, given the impact of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.
These measures were introduced at the end of the programming period and required “time and resources” to implement.
The decree-law, signed by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, cites a European regulation of 2024 that is coming extend the deadline to submit the final payment request and the deadline to submit closing documents to 12 months“with a view to reducing administrative burdens for the authorities responsible for the programs and avoiding possible losses of funds.”
Therefore, as highlighted, it is necessary to guarantee the coherence and adequacy of these changes with the standards enshrined in national legislation.
PT 2020 reached 100% execution and 112% commitment at the end of March, according to the latest European Union funds bulletin. At the end of March, payments made to beneficiaries amounted to €26.5 billion in funds, that is, 98% of the PT 2020 endowment.
PT 2020 consists of a Association agreement between Portugal and the European Commission, “which establishes the principles and programming priorities of development policy economic, social and territorial of Portugal, between 2014 and 2020″.
The first tenders for the PT2020 program were opened in 2015. The program is covered by the n+3 rule, which means that, although its validity ends in 2020, three more years are granted for its implementation.
December 31, 2023 was the deadline for promoters to make and pay expenses, but not the end of the program. Until the end of July 2024, beneficiaries can submit reimbursement requests to the managing authorities of the respective programs.
In turn, the managing authorities carry out controls, validate and pay expenses, while the certifying authority analyzes and formalizes the latest payment request for the operational programs.
Next, until February 15, 2025, the closing documents will be presented, which include the final execution report. At the end of May of the same year, the European Commission must approve the closing documents.
Source: Observadora
