The government is unable to pay 156 million expenses due to covid-19 to municipalities

The government said this Thursday that it is unable to pay the 156 million euros (ME) declared by the municipalities in the fight against covid-19, noting that only about 20 ME remained from the European Solidarity Fund.

“We are currently unable to respond to this statement by the National Association of Municipalities (ANMP). The only discovery we have and which we have already communicated was in the context of the support provided by the European Union Solidarity Fund. “, making a total of 60 people, said Territorial Unity Minister Ana Abruñosa, who oversees the municipalities, in an interview with Lusa.

“We cannot fulfill this request for 156 ME, but our margin is to exhaust the 60 million European Union rescue fund package, which is funds coming directly from the European Commission and also in an emergency context,” added.

In total, the municipalities are demanding 156 ME from the government as the total costs they incurred to fight covid-19, according to the Accounts Chamber, an amount that is not included in the state budget for 2023 (OE2023), as expected. .

Ana Abruñosa explained to Luza that tenders were open for the available amount of 60 IU and that of that about 40 IU have already been allocated, so “the government’s reserve will be to see how it can still transfer about 20 IU”.

“In urgent and emergency situations – and well – municipalities have used all their flexibility. But often this later does not take care of the documentation requirements that we have when we intend to support these expenses from European funds. And this is what justifies the fact that we opened and approved a grant of 60 ME and so far only the expense that does not reach 40 ME has been paid,” he explained, emphasizing that “without court decisions” part of what was presented in the application and approved “was not paid for exactly the rigor” required in the procedures and documentation that was not taken care of in the “urgent and emergency process, as in the case of covid-19”.

Regarding the costs incurred to combat covid-19 by parishes that have not yet received any support, Secretary of State for Local Government Carlos Miguel stressed that the government is finding a formula within the authority of the Office. -General for Local Authorities (DGAL) to represent the National Association of Parishes (Anafre).

DGAL receives funds through the OE for contracts for technical and financial cooperation with municipalities in the amount of six million euros, and it is possible that a solution for parishes will be adapted from this amount.

“We will need to open notifications and rules will have to be created that should be the same or identical to those created for municipalities. There is no reason to be so different. And thanks to this, parishes can apply and applications will be evaluated by CCDR [Comissões de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional] and will have their usual course,” he explained.

This Thursday, Parliament is hearing the National Association of Parishes (Anafre) and the Minister responsible for municipalities, Ana Abrunhosa, as part of the debate on the specifics of the OE2023 proposal, and the final global vote on the document is expected on November 25. . . .