The next tranche of money from the EC’s Community Support Framework heading to the Algarve aims to support people and businesses rather than to shovel money at infrastructure projects and buildings.
The Chairman of the Committee for Coordination and Regional Development in the Algarve (CCDR) David Santos today revealed how these new EU funds will be used in the Algarve in the 2014 to 2020 period, but declined to specify projects until after a meeting of the Regional Council on February 17th.
Santos did say that he will receive over €318 million for the Algarve. This represents an increase of 82% compared to the amount dished out between 2007 and 2013.
The Community Support Framework for 2014/20 the Algarve will get most of its money from the European Regional Development Fund programme, and from the European Social Fund the latter providing around €95 million.
For the first time the Algarve’s municipalities, the University of the Algarve and the seven main business associations in the region managed to agree a protocol with the CCDR Algarve in order to prepare a coordinated approach for funding from 2014 to 2020.
This seems to have worked, "We have a total to be managed by CCDR Algarve of nearly €319 million. The main difference is that the focus from now on will be on knowledge transfer for businesses and on the companies themselves, with 60% of the incoming funds being channelled to these areas," announced Santos.
The European Social Fund money will be used on “inclusion, employment and human capital," investing in training, particularly in the workplace, in young people and in gender equality," said Santos.
The areas that will not be continue to soak up funds are “roads and the like,” which includes the crumbling EN 125, a result of central government’s trickery and rather cruel sense of humour.
"Now, almost everything that has to do with the management of urban space will not be eligible,” warned Santos, except schools, and urban regeneration in disadvantaged areas.
There is also a focus on the regeneration of cultural heritage," added Santos who did not hint at how individuals, businesses and public authorities can access these community funds.
For once it seems that the Algarve has benefitted from some positive discrimination as the percentage rise in free EC money is well above the average, but nowhere near the hand out Lisbon is to receive, a doubling of funds to €833 million.
€319 million for the Algarve, if it is not wasted on grandiose ego-driven projects from local mayors, surely can make a difference, although some may struggle to understand how 'knowledge transfer for businesses' and 'inclusion, employment and human capital' will help them in their everyday lives.
