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Notícias
Corporate and Commercial
2007-02-08
The Portuguese Government approved on 11 January 2007 the National Strategy Reference Framework for the period 2007-2013 concerning the allocation of over 21,000 million euros of community funds to develop the Portuguese economy.
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The application of the European Structural and Cohesion funds depends on the approval by the European Commission (EC) of the National Strategy Reference Framework (Quadro Nacional Estratégico de Referência – QREN) and of the Operational Programs (OPs). On 11 January 2007, the Portuguese Government approved the QREN for the period 2007-2013.
1. The national strategy reference framework
The QREN establishes the guidelines for the investment of €21,500 million that Portugal will receive in Community Funds between 2007 and 2013 in connection with the Community Support Framework (CSF). The QREN establishes three sets of objectives in respect of the following matters: (i) human resources potential, (ii) competitiveness and (iii) land management.
Regarding the human resources potential, which involves the improvement of the qualification of the Portuguese people, the Government plans to invest an excess of €6,000 million, which represents an increase of 10% in relation to the third CSF. On competitiveness, the estimated global investment is around €5,500 million to be financed by the European Regional Development Fund (the “ERDF”). This investment represents an increase of 12% in relation to the third CSF. Finally, the investment on land management, which gives a special importance to environmental measures and the construction of strategic infrastructures, will represent more than a half of the ERDF for the mainland Portugal.
2. The operational programs
The following OPs are described in the QREN: (i) OPs on relevant matters (Human Resources Potential, Competitiveness and Improvement of the Land Management); (ii) Regional OPs for mainland Portugal – North, Center, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve; (iii) OPs for the Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira; (iv) OPs for cross-border territorial cooperation (Portugal-Spain and Mediterranean Basin), Transnational Cooperation (Atlantic Region, Southwest Europe, Mediterranean Region and Madeira-Azores-Canarias), Inter-regional Cooperation and Inter-regional Cooperation Networks; and (v) OPs for Technical Assistance.
The costs incurred with the approved operational programs as of the date they are presented to the EC and until the 31st December 2015 will be subsidized by the ERDF. The expenses incurred as of 1st January 2007 should also be subsidized even if the operation programs are presented after such date.
The QREN is expected to play a major role in the growth of the Portuguese economy and will open new opportunities to national and international investors. In fact, the Government intends to invest an overall amount of around €44,000 million during the period 2007-2013.
© Macedo Vitorino e Associados – 2007
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