Source: European Parliament
The Commission confirms that, according to the Portuguese authorities, cohesion policy funding was recently decided for Carris to support the acquisition of rolling stock (articulated trams) to enhance Lisbon’s public transport service.
The total cost of the operation was EUR 40.6 million, with a contribution from the Cohesion Fund through the programme Sustentável 2030[1] of EUR 29.5 million. The conditions for using the funds are in line with the eligibility rules of the programme and the provisions of the cohesion policy regulations.
The additionality principle was included in Article 95 of Regulation (EU) 1303/2013[2], which governed the implementation of cohesion policy in the 2014 to 2020 programming period. The principle is no longer included in the regulation (EU) 2021/1060[3], which governs implementation in the 2021 to 2027 period.
Carris is also receiving funding under Portugal’s recovery and resilience plan[4] (RRP), which includes two investments related to tenders by Fundo Ambiental. Investment C15-i05 aims to purchase zero emission buses and charging infrastructure in Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas.
Carris was selected for 33 buses and charging stations and received EUR 6.38 million from the RRP. With Investment C21-i12, Carris aims to acquire 44 buses and charging stations, receiving EUR 11 million from the RRP. The investment is expected to be completed in 2026.
The additionality principle[5] ensures that support under the Recovery and Resilience Facility is additional to other EU programs and instruments.
- [1] https://sustentavel2030.gov.pt/
- [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1303/oj/eng
- [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng
- [4] https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/portugals-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en
- [5] Article 9 Regulation (EU) 2021/241.