The state spent 18.2 million euros on organizing WYD

The state spent 18.2 of the 20 million euros planned to organize World Youth Day, the deputy minister for parliamentary affairs said on Tuesday, noting that indirect costs of ministries are not included.

“After what was agreed between the government and the local authorities, it was impossible not to carry out what we had to carry out in our responsibilities, whether in the field of mobility, health or in all the logistics operations in which we had to be involved. Budgetary strictness also allows this to be done, of the 20 million that were allocated as a limit,” the state spent 18,245,996 euros, Ana Catarina Mendes told deputies.

In the parliamentary Committee on Public Administration, Spatial Planning and Local Government, where she was heard on Chegi’s request for direct adjustments made to World Youth Day (WYD), which took place in Lisbon from 1 to 6 August, the minister emphasized this fact. that about 20 million euros approved by the government in 2022 have not been fully spent.

According to Ana Catarina Mendes, according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, which provided for expenditures of up to 20 million euros, “five public tenders were carried out, corresponding to 94% of the amount of the expenses of the mission structure”, and there were contracts that received the preliminary approval of the Court of Auditors.

“There were 26 direct adjustments amounting to 238 thousand euros, 1% of the amounts analyzed, and 22 direct adjustments using the exclusion rule contained in the state budget, amounting to 1.9 million euros, that is, 11% of the amount analyzed. “, He said.

The minister handed MPs a report containing “all tenders and contracts concluded within the framework of the Council of Ministers resolution” on the WYD, with the aim of “full transparency and knowledge of what the state costs for this event.”

Ana Catarina Mendes explained that these costs of 18.2 million euros do not include the costs that some ministries, such as the Ministry of Justice, Internal Administration, Infrastructure, Health, Environment and Economy, incurred as part of the GYP.

“These are indirect expenses that are included in the state budget of each of the ministries,” he said.

WYD is the largest gathering of young Catholics from around the world with the Pope, and this year it took place in Lisbon in the first week of August, with an estimated 1.5 million people in attendance.