Country has more than €18 billion in grants and loans to spend by 2026
Portugal’s prime minister António Costa is presenting the start of a government initiative dubbed “PRR Roadmap” today – aiming to “verify projects already underway throughout the national territory”.
The implementation of the Plan for Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), involving more than €18 billion in subsidies and loans until 2026, is coordinated by the minister of the presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva.
Today “two emerging issues for which responses are urgent will be highlighted in the roadmap: housing and health”, says the government blurb.
Visits to the construction sites of two new health units near Leiria are planned, along with the overseeing of work at university residences in Lisbon.
Mr Costa started the day in Leiria, where he gave a speech on the initiative.
In the afternoon, before the swearing-in of new ministers and secretaries of State, António Costa will be at construction sites in Lisbon – again taking the opportunity to make a speech, says Lusa.
According to a statement from the government, the PRR Roadmap will have events “every week, with various initiatives spread over several days of the week and extending throughout the first months” of the year.
“The aim is to verify, on the ground, the implementation of projects already underway with PRR funds: in housing, health, social responses, support for businesses, culture, sustainable mobility, forests and digitalisation,” says the note.
“The PRR will enable a series of investments and structural reforms in Portugal aimed at boosting recovery and economic growth based on the three pillars of the commitment to the European Union: Resilience, Climate Transition and Digital Transition”, adds the government.
The efforts signal a ‘new day’ and come on the eve of a debate scheduled in parliament to discuss “the political situation and crisis in government” caused by the TAP golden handshake furore.
Inference is that PM Costa means to put distance now between the disasters of the festive season, and plans for improving Portugal’s future.
To date, PRR implementation has managed around 17% of funds available. Intentions are to reach 32% by the end of this year, Mariana Vieira da Silva has explained..
