Funding for projected Lisbon Metro extension

Subject: Funding for projected Lisbon Metro extension

The projected Lisbon Metro circular line has been coming in for criticism from many different quarters. While intended to improve mobility, it is increasingly appearing to be a mistake, taking up funding that could be put to better use for other, clearly more important and deserving network expansion projects, such as the lines to Loures and the the western Lisbon area.

In view of this:

1. Can the Commission say what funding from the current Multiannual Financial Framework (2013- 2020) is being earmarked for construction of the Lisbon Metro circular line?

2. Could the amounts in question be redirected towards other, more important network expansion projects such as the above without incurring the risk of forfeiting the funding altogether and, if so, on what terms?

3. What funding from the future Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027) could in principle be earmarked for the above projects?

Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission

(3 April 2020)

Under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020, there is no funding earmarked for particular projects under shared management. It is the responsibility of the Member State, not the Commission, to select concrete projects, in compliance with the applicable provisions and the approved operational programmes. For projects qualified as ‘major projects ’ (1), which is the case of the Lisbon Metro Circular Line, the Commission approves the Union contribution through a decision following a submission by the Member State (2).

In this context, the Portuguese authorities have planned an amount of EUR 83 million under the operational programme for Sustainability and Efficient Use of Resources (POSEUR) (3) to co-finance the Lisbon Metro Circular Line. Any possible reallocation of that amount would be a decision by the Portuguese authorities. So far, the Commission has not been informed of any intentions by the national authorities to do so. It should be added that such an amount or part thereof would be de-committed if it is not used for project or projects (4) completed by the end of 2023.

For the future MFF (2021-2027), sustainable urban mobility has been proposed to be among the specific objectives for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. The Commission cannot pre-empt the result of the upcoming discussions with Portugal on the next programming period nor determine, at this stage, the scope of eligibility under the future Portuguese ERDF and Cohesion Fund programmes.

⋅1∙ See Articles 100 to 103 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 17 December 2013.

⋅2∙ Portugal submitted this major project to the Commission on 12 March 2020.

⋅3∙ See Section ‘2.A.6.4 Planned use of major projects’ and Table 27 of the POSEUR:

https://poseur.portugal2020.pt/media/42229/programme_2014pt16cfop001_8_0_pt_05122019.pdf ⋅4∙ The Lisbon Metro Circular Line and/or any other project.