Initially, the deadline for this was scheduled for December 31, 2023, but the Government decided to extend it to the end of August.

According to a diploma published today in Diário da República and a note released by the program, the framework for the implementation of the operational programs and rural development programs for the period between 2014 and 2020 has been adapted, "in order to provide Member States with additional flexibility in terms of implementation and greater liquidity", in view of the impact of covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.

These measures were introduced at the end of the programming period and required "time and resources" to be implemented.

The decree-law, signed by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, cites a European regulation from 2024 that extends the deadline for submitting the final payment request and the deadline for submitting the closing documents by 12 months, "with a view to reducing the administrative burden for the authorities responsible for the programs and avoiding possible loss of funds".

Thus, as he stressed, it is necessary to ensure the coherence and adequacy of these changes with the rules enshrined in national legislation.

The PT 2020 reached 100% execution and 112% commitment by the end of March, according to the latest bulletin of the European Union funds.

At the end of March, payments made to beneficiaries amounted to 26.5 billion euros in funds, that is, 98% of the PT 2020 allocation.

The PT 2020 consists of a partnership agreement between Portugal and the European Commission, "which establishes the principles and programming priorities for Portugal's economic, social and territorial development policy, between 2014 and 2020".

The first PT2020 program competitions were opened in 2015.

The program is covered by the n+3 rule, which means that, despite its validity ending in 2020, three more years are given for its execution.

December 31, 2023 was the deadline for promoters to make and pay expenses, but not the end of the program.

Until the end of July 2024, beneficiaries can submit reimbursement requests to the management authorities of the respective programs.

In turn, the management authorities carry out verifications, validate and pay expenses, while the certifying authority analyzes and formalizes the last payment request for the operational programs.

This is followed, until February 15, 2025, by the presentation of the closing documents, which include the final implementation report.

By the end of May of the same year, the European Commission should approve the closing documents.

Read Also: Portugal receives more than 90% of the value of PT 2020 until March (Portuguese version)