Programme co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective
Programme description
On 5 October 2007 the European Commission approved an Operational Programme for the Autonomous Region of Madeira (Portugal) for 2007-2013. The Operational Programme comes under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective and has a total budget of about 450 million euros. The financing provided by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to some 321 million euros, representing about 1.5% of Community aid to Portugal as part of the cohesion policy for 2007-2013.
1. Purpose and aim of the programme
The main aim of the Operational Programme is to ensure economic growth and employment by means of actions intended at regional level to develop innovation, a sense of enterprise and the information society.
The programme also seeks to ensure sustainable development compatible with the environment and the protection of nature. It must also foster proper exploitation of the cultural heritage of Madeira and increase regional cohesion through the provision of transport infrastructure and easier access to goods and services. In this way it will be possible to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants.
The Operational Programme for the Autonomous Region of Madeira will help to achieve one of the essential objectives of the national strategic reference framework, the aim of which is to give fresh impetus to the economic and social cohesion of the region in an innovative strategic framework which takes account of new guidelines (objective of competitiveness).
The special allocation for outermost regions will be used to finance additional costs in the sectors of transport, waste treatment and youth training.
2. Expected impact of the investment
The programme is intended to boost competitiveness by encouraging innovation and more widespread awareness of a sense of enterprise in order to cope with competition in the region's leading sectors, including tourism.
Special attention will be focused on training in order to develop better worker skills.
The sustainable development of Madeira's economy will be achieved by enhancing the environment and protecting natural resources.
The provision of public infrastructure and amenities will help to reduce regional differences and aid employment.
3. Priorities
The Operational Programme is centred on six priorities:
Priority 1: Innovation, technological development and the information society [about 9.7% of total investment]
The investment proposed for this priority targets the development of the information society, as well as actions intended to stimulate research and innovation among firms and to make new technologies more readily available. The modernisation of public administration management systems is also planned.
Priority 2: Competitiveness of the regional economic basis [about 13.7% of total investment]
The investment under this priority targets the diversification and modernisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the dissemination of information and communication (ICT) technologies in order to give a new boost to the competitiveness of firms. The actions to be co-financed will also be aimed at the internationalisation of firms, especially by providing platforms for cooperation with external partners.
Priority 3: Sustainable development [about 19.8% of total investment]
The aim of this priority is to encourage better environmental management, particularly in the treatment of waste and waste water. In addition, actions are planned to protect nature and biodiversity and to exploit water resources.
Priority 4: Regional cohesion and governance [about 25.5% of total investment]
The aims of the actions under this priority are to restore urban areas, complete the regional road network and provide public amenities for culture and recreation. This priority covers actions to improve and modernise the public administration management system.
Priority 5: Compensation for the outermost regions' additional costs [about 29.5% of total investment]
This priority will provide compensation for the additional costs incurred by public and private enterprises because of remoteness, especially in the field of transport.
Priority 6: Technical assistance [about 1.7% of total investment]
Technical assistance is planned for the implementation of the programme. The funding may be used to manage and monitor the Operational Programme.
4. Managing authority
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation, technological development and the information society | 34.992.667,00 | 8.748.167,00 | 43.740.834,00 |
| Competitiveness of the regional economic basis | 49.472.186,00 | 12.368.047,00 | 61.840.233,00 |
| Sustainable development | 71.342.601,00 | 17.835.650,00 | 89.178.251,00 |
| Regional cohesion and governance | 91.916.874,00 | 22.980.000,00 | 114.896.874,00 |
| Compensation for the outermost regions' additional costs | 66.324.676,00 | 66.324.676,00 | 132.649.352,00 |
| Technical assistance | 6.500.000,00 | 1.147.059,00 | 7.647.059,00 |
| Total | 320.549.004,00 | 129.403.599,00 | 449.952.603,00 |