PT2030: Reprogramming request approved by the European Commission

The European Commission approved the interim reprogramming request under the Sustainable 2030 themed programme and the regional Algarve, Alentejo, Centre, North, and Madeira 2030, which enables Portugal to ensure compliance with the execution level set under N+3 (see the end).

This reprogramming was done based on the new strategic priorities identified by the European Commission given the evolution of the geopolitical context and the need to boost responses to the current European Union structural challenges.

Competitiveness and decarbonisation; defence and security; affordable housing; water resistance and the energy transition are the five priority areas set by Brussels.

Greater flexibility in executing the cohesion policy funds is also associated with these new priorities, namely pre-funding payment, an increase in the co-funding rate, and extension of the programme execution timeframe.

"This reprogramming allowed a readjustment to the programme according to the new priorities set by the European Commission", stated the Minister of Economy and Social Cohesion, adding that "this was another step to ensure Portugal does not miss out on a single euro form the community funds and overcomes the delay with which PT2030 kicked off".

"This reprogramming eliminates the "guillotine" risk and ensures all the European funds," said Castro Almeida. "Guillotine" is stopping the payment of projects due to the programme’s deadline being passed.

Financially, this reprogramming leads to several changes in priorities and specific objectives whereas the initial programme allocations remain unchanged.

For the Sustainable 2030 programme, for instance, the allocations for projects on smart energy systems and adapting to climate change were boosted.

For the regional programmes, the allocations in areas such as sustainable water management, development, and critical technology manufacturing, defence, construction in response to natural catastrophes and affordable housing were boosted.

With this reprogramming, Portugal makes sure that all the programmes involved meet the execution levels imposed by the N+3 rule, avoiding the loss of around 890 million euros.

The N+3 rule sets execution parameters throughout the seven-year cycle of the PT2030 programmes, whereby the financial envelopes will be cut in case on non-compliance.