73% of the 318 million euros foreseen in the Algarve Operational Program (CRESC Algarve 2020) had already been «validated and paid to the beneficiaries», at the end of December, but that percentage fell «below the ambition», which was to have at least 80% implementation at this stage. This statement was made by José Apolinário, president of the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development (CCDR) of the Algarve, the entity responsible for managing European funds in the region.
On the sidelines of the presentation of first notice for applications under the Portugal 2030 Partnership Agreement to finance school infrastructures, on the 29th of December, José Apolinário also revealed that, «in the so-called intermediate bodies», there are, at the moment, around 9,2 million euros to be validated (which corresponds to 3% of the execution plan of CRESC 2020), and 25% of the staff to be executed (around 80 million euros).
«These funds have been approved, but we still need the commitment of the beneficiaries to carry out what has been approved», said the president of CCDR Algarve.
«We have to reach 100% execution, there is no question about that», he stressed, referring that one of the works that is foreseen in Portugal 2020, and that should go ahead in January, is the Costa Vicentina cycle path (a joint investment by the Municipalities of Aljezur and Vila do Bispo).
According to José Apolinário, the Algarve continues, at the moment, «with no risk of losing funds», given that the execution plan of CRESC Algarve 2020 ends only on the 31st of December of next year. However, the goal is to run everything by the end of September.
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