Portugal has already submitted to Brussels a proposal to reprogram the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the allocation of which will now exceed 22 billion euros, the government announced.
“The government has submitted to the European Commission a revised PRR […]. With initial PRR funds, this is an increase of more than €2,400 million in grants and €3,200 million in loans,” Presidency Minister Mariana Vieira da Silva told reporters in Lisbon.
The change also includes the financial allocation under the REPowerEU initiative (€704 million) as well as the unused portion of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (€81 million).
Thanks to the reprogramming proposal, Portugal now has 41 more measures, 11 reforms and 30 investments.
The minister recalled that this review, which Brussels has to respond to within two months, “contains new obligations, corresponds to the energy dimension.” […] and changes the set of conditions originally envisaged”, given that the plan was defined in a context different from that in which Europe currently finds itself, namely with the war in Ukraine.
As he clarified, with regard to strengthening the commitment to the energy transition, the Government intends to support more than 70,000 energy efficiency projects in residential buildings, create a digital channel for licensing and monitoring renewable energy projects, purchase at least 200 environmentally friendly buses, “create an observatory on energy poverty” and also provide vocational training for “green skills development”.
To increase the competitiveness of the economy, it is planned to financially support the approved mobilization and green agendas, “transition from investments of 930 million euros to 2,800 million euros”, the creation of a technical unit to ensure the assessment of tax incentives, support for more than 25 digital shopping districts create an advanced computing center and a scientific center.
In terms of strengthening the welfare state, the reprogramming includes the purchase of more medical equipment, the provision of 18,000 “affordable” student residences, another 10,000 kindergarten places, and another 1,600 in innovative responses, as well as “upgrading 75 public schools 2 -th and 3rd levels and secondary education” and the creation of a unified social benefit and a model for assessing public administration.
Regarding the strengthening of territorial integrity, the executive branch wants to move forward with “another 30 activities for the rehabilitation, conservation and restoration of national monuments and immovable heritage of monuments”, install 10 new stores for citizens, 100 places for citizens and 14 mobile places for citizens, implement the model smart spaces in 75 municipalities and promote “easier” access to social protection for citizens in economic vulnerability.
Considering the three dimensions of the PRR, with reprogramming, sustainability will reach €15,051 million from the original €11,125 million, climate change transition from €3,059 million to €4,355 million, and digital transition from €2,460 million to €2,794 million.
“In terms of payment requests, there are additional goals and milestones that need to be completed, spread across different payment requests. […]. Portugal has gone from achieving 341 goals to 501 goals,” added Mariana Vieira da Silva.
Regarding the implementation of the PDP, the minister assured that Portugal is “at the forefront”, stressing that 100% can be reached by 2026, after Brussels warned that it would not extend the agreed period for the use of funds.
According to the data presented at the press conference, payments to beneficiaries currently amount to 12% of the total, with more than 1,900 million euros paid to various organizations.
“Of course, with a large amount of funds, the percentage of completion decreases in weight. We were 17% completed and when we moved on to 501 goals and milestones […] will increase to 12%,” said Mariana Vieira da Silva.
In the current year, the number of goals and milestones that must be completed in order to receive payment requests remains at 52.
The PDP, which runs until 2026, includes a series of reforms and investments to restore economic growth.
In addition to the purpose of this plan to repair the damage caused by covid-19, this plan also aims to support investment and create jobs.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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