Source: European Parliament
10.10.2024
Question for written answer E-002013/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lídia Pereira (PPE), Sebastião Bugalho (PPE), Hélder Sousa Silva (PPE), Sérgio Humberto (PPE)
The nationalisation of Efacec in July 2020[1] was ‘carried out without technical or independent justification of the public interest’ and ‘when making the decision, the State did not prepare a forecast of its impact on public finances, which harmed the taxpayers’ right to transparency.’ Those are two of the conclusions in a Portuguese Court of Auditors report following its audit of the public funding of Efacec[2]. The Commission has twice been asked about this matter[3][4].
According to the report, (i) ‘the goals of nationalisation have not been achieved’, (ii) ‘deterioration in Efacec’s financial and commercial standing was not avoided’, (iii) ‘its financial and operational value was not stabilised’ and (iv) ‘jobs have not been protected’. In light of these points, the natural conclusion is that the decision went against the public interest and the rights of Portuguese taxpayers. The operation involved public funding to the tune of EUR 484 million, which could rise to EUR 564 million as a result of contingent liabilities.
- 1.What contact was there with the Portuguese Government during this process?
- 2.What does the Commission make of this audit with regard to competition rules?
Submitted: 10.10.2024
- [1] https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/decreto-lei/33-a-2020-137126910
- [2] https://www.tcontas.pt/pt-pt/ProdutosTC/Relatorios/RelatoriosAuditoria/Documents/2024/rel009-2024-2s.pdf
- [3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2021-005241_EN.html
- [4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-003870_EN.html