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Elisa Ferreira calls for policy-driven use of EU funds in Portugal
During a conference in Porto regarding territorial cohesion, former European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira stated that Portugal has become somewhat accustomed to EU funds. She argued that the nation must shift its focus from discussing the availability of money to discussing the public development policies and strategic projects those funds support. Ferreira emphasized that in a changing global landscape, funds must be directly linked to productivity, technological infrastructure, and worker qualification to remain competitive with powers like China and the US.
Ferreira also advocated for a “drama-free” regionalization, describing it as an administrative reorganization that creates an intermediate level of governance between municipalities and the central government. She noted that while technical bodies are prepared, implementation depends on political will.
However, Álvaro Santos, president of the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), expressed skepticism regarding the timeline for such reforms. He suggested that regionalization is unlikely to advance in the current legislature due to a lack of political consensus, predicting it will not occur within the next four to five years.
Entities
CCDR-Norte · Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes · Elisa Ferreira · Lusa · Porto · Portugal · Álvaro Santos
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Investment focus should shift toward technological infrastructure, productivity, and workforce qualification.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The development of the national railway line is significantly delayed.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Portugal has moved past the stage of needing only basic infrastructure.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Portugal should focus on discussing development policies and projects rather than the amount of money received. www.cmjornal.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] The European Union must organize to compete with China and the United States.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Portugal has become somewhat accustomed to community funds. www.cmjornal.pt