Withholding by the Portuguese authorities of payments from the 2014-2020 European structural and investment funds
31.8.2016
Question for written answer E-006617-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)
The Commission, together with the European Parliament and Council, adopted the structural and investment funds (for cohesion policy, common agricultural policy and European maritime and fisheries policy) for the period 2014-2020, with a total endowment of EUR 352 billion.
Portugal is due to receive around EUR 25.8 billion from the European Union, together with EUR 6.9 billion in national funding, amounting to a total of EUR 32.7 billion, intended for measures to enhance SME competitiveness or investment in education and training in Portugal, innovation, renewable energy, social inclusion or new job creation programmes.
However, complaints have been registered by a number of undertakings regarding the slowness and inefficiency of the Portuguese authorities in making EU funding available, arguing that the Government is failing to channel funds effectively towards businesses and private social solidarity institutions.
In view of this:
- —What amounts have already been transferred by the Commission to Portugal from European structural and investment funds earmarked for the period 2014-2020?
- —What funding has to date been distributed by Portugal to individual undertakings?