European Commission - Press release
Commission approves modification of Cohesion Policy programmes to better
suit Portugal's investment needs
Brussels, 7 December 2018
€2.7 billion of Cohesion Policy funds will be redirected towards priorities defined by the Portuguese
government. In light of solid economic growth, the reprogramming of Portugal's Cohesion budget will
enable the country to continue implementing structural reforms and ensure the sustainability of public
finances while investing for the future.
Speaking at a public event in Lisbon with Prime Minister António Costa, Commissioner for Regional
policy Corina Creţu said: "This reprogramming is not a mathematical exercise. This is about Portugal
defining its priorities for the years to come, to create growth and jobs for the people. This is about the
EU showing flexibility and giving Portugal the means to invest where its future lies. But this is first and
foremost about the great cooperation between the EU and Portugal throughout the process, which
officially concludes today, and I couldn't be prouder of what we achieved."
The revised programmes will allow Portugal to focus further on key areas for the future of its economy
and for a better quality of life in the country; innovation in small and medium businesses (+ €688
million), skills and training (+ €931 million), support to employment and entrepreneurship (+ €256
million), clean urban mobility (+ €285 million) and social infrastructure (+ €627 million).
In particular, the reprogramming exercise will enable the implementation of new large infrastructure
projects of strategic importance: the extension of the metros in Lisbon and Porto, the modernisation of
the Cascais urban railway line and a new mobility system for the Mondego area, near the city of
Coimbra. A new scheme, blending grants and financial instruments, will be set up to help innovative
small and medium businesses get better access to finance.
Special attention is given to economic growth in the Portuguese Outermost regions, with increased
support for the competitiveness of small and medium businesses in Madeira and for the preservation of
natural and cultural heritage in the Azores – a key touristic asset.
This reprograming exercise does not impact the overall allocation of EU funds for Portugal in the 2014-
2020 period. It also does not imply changes in total EU allocations per programme or per fund, but
only within each programme concerned, by transferring resources across investment priorities.
Background
In July 2018 Portugal asked the Commission to approve the reshuffling of resources under Cohesion
Policy programmes for the 2014-2020 budget period, in order to align them to the new political and
strategic priorities of the Portuguese government in light of the new economic situation. Indeed, the
discussions on the current investment priorities and programmes took place between 2011 and 2014,
when the economic context was not as favourable as now.
Portugal has reaped the fruits of the more than €100 billion of Cohesion Policy funds invested in the
country since its accession to the European Union. Between 1986 and the 2000's, per head gross
domestic product in Portugal has increased from 60% to 80% of the EU average – not least thanks to
EU investments and the efforts of the Portuguese people. Cohesion Policy funds also provided a vital
source of public investments during the financial and economic crisis.
Results of Cohesion Policy investments carried out over the last decade in the country include the
creation of nearly 60,000 jobs, the construction of 460 km of new roads and 500,000 people having
access to better drinking water supply.
Portugal will receive significant support from the EU under the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy, with a
proposed envelope of €23.8 billion (current prices).
More information
Portugal on the Cohesion Open Data Platform
@EUinmyRegion, @CorinaCretuEU
IP/18/6682
Press contacts:
Christian SPAHR (+32 2 295 61 53)
Sophie DUPIN DE SAINT-CYR (+32 2 295 61 69)
General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
