Ana Abrunhosa, Minister of Territorial Cohesion, and Carlos Miguel, Deputy Secretary of State and Regional Development, met this Wednesday, 29 January, with officials from the Algarve and CCDR municipalities, in a meeting that served to hold the current status of the execution of the Regional Operational Program, to discuss future investments and difficulties for the region.
The meeting was attended by António Pina, president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), Francisco Serra, president of CCDR Algarve, the presidents of the regional authorities and the technical team of the PO Regional.
Ana Abrunhosa began by showing herself “concerned with regard to the execution rate of this Regional OP”, reinforcing the issue that “2020 is the last year to approve candidacies, although the execution may take place until 2023”.
Recognizing that «the Algarve is a region with specific needs», the minister stressed that these «proximity meetings are important to understand, on the ground, the real difficulties of the municipalities and to try to find solutions that are better suited to fulfilling the aspirations of the mayors ».
António Pina, AMAL's president, once again stressed the importance that «in the next table the issue that there are several Algarves within the Algarve is taken into account in a very clear way. It is of fundamental importance that measures of positive discrimination are put in place in relation to the interior of the Algarve and for territories with smaller dimensions, where there are even more difficulties in carrying out investments».
The mayor, according to AMAL, reinforced “the need to better understand how, in the next framework, structural works for the region can be financed by community funds, a situation that currently does not occur”.
The constraints brought by the Public Contracts Code, the delays in the processes that require a visa from the Court of Auditors or the tolls on Via do Infante were other problems raised by the mayors.
In order for the next framework and structuring of regional and sub-regional strategies in Portugal 2030 to be more in line with the needs of the region, and considering that both entities – AMAL and CCDR – have prepared contributions for Portugal 2030, the Minister of Territorial Cohesion suggested that these documents result in a single document where the structural projects for the region in each area are prioritized.
Both António Pina and Francisco Serra undertook to develop this work, and it is expected that it can be completed by February of this year, taking this opportunity to remind the governors that it will be necessary for there to be «national solidarity with difference».
Taking into account what has already happened in the past, with regard to the amount allocated to the current Regional OP, around 319 million euros, Ana Abrunhosa announced that more applications can be considered under the regime of Overbooking (in this case 10%, which represents around 32 million euros) thus ensuring funding for projects that are approved by December 31 of this year.
The context of the overbooking regime is a mechanism used to ensure that Program funds can be spent in full.
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