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DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. 63 /XI/1.

"Recommend to the Government a set of Reprogramming, Redirecting and Reengineering measures of the QREN"

MOTIVATION

It becomes practically unnecessary or redundant to refer to the central importance that the QREN

should take over, as a vehicle for promoting competitiveness, of development

regional, but equally as a stimulus to social and territorial cohesion.

The national economy has put forward a worrying development, something that goes a long way

in addition to the international crisis, as since the year 2001 the rates of GDP developments

were always less than 2%, not projecting, so little, that up to 2011 such

behavior comes to invert. Growth rates of this type make it impossible

any kind of convergence of Portugal vis-à-vis the European Union, or still the decrease

significant of the alarming values of unemployment, never previously seen in Portugal.

Only receding from the years 1910 a to 1920, with a World War to occur simultaneously with

the atribulated Implantation of the Republic, one can find in our economic history

a decade with such poor performance at the level of recorded progress.

In turn, the goals of social and territorial cohesion are also far from having been

achieved, by watching even a growing worsening of existing inequalities,

unemployment rates higher than 10%, accruals of poverty levels and asymmetries

regional. Punctuate worrying phenomena of desertification, there is a handicap

redistribution of wealth, while at the same time taking on an ineffectiveness and

insufficiency of the mechanisms that should help to build a fairer, cohesive Country and

sympathetic.

Being these core issues in the evolution of the Country, all public policies, including the

design and management of the QREN, by the volumes of community funds involved, through the

their different operational programmes, should be oriented towards the avoidance of the

had come to this kind of situation, to the similarity of what succeeded with other nations, in the

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how they have designed and are taking advantage of the resources made available in the context of the

period of financial programming regarding 2007-2013.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case in Portugal, as we will see from next in greater

detail, by enunciating different areas of improvement associated with the design and management of the QREN,

where it matters to make urgent and critical changes, in advance in the last section.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE SITUATION

They are set out below the main elements of analysis that enable us to identify

evident gaps in the way in which the QREN was designed and has been implemented:

Unsetting Clara de Development Strategy of Portugal Inerente to QREN

The QREN, both by its designation as well as its range, should be aligned with a

objective and clear vision of the future that is intended for Portugal to come up with. Succeeding though

that such a type of view is not associated with it, as incidences of the rest was evidenced by the

opinions issued in 2006 and 2007 by the Economic and Social Council, having as rapporteur the

Prof. Doctor Adriano Pimpão (attending to the independent nature of this entity, and

quality of its opinions on this matter, to them we will make frequent reference,

designating them simply as ESC opinions), which we cite: " the QREN designation

raises a hope in the presentation of a new development strategy. Such was,

however, defrauded by the relative shyness in the deepening of the diagnosis and the

consequent therapeutics presented. The historical causes of structural weaknesses of the

economics are not sufficiently identified in this exercise of the QREN, namely

when you try to analyze Portugal's divergence process with the European Union. " More

still, the paths set out, albeit vacant, have been defined with a " deficit of

participation of partners and society in general in the preparation of a document with the

ambition and the importance with which the same is presented, "when, as is known," the

planning of the future is, first of all, a process understood in a systemic manner, in which the

final product -in this case, the QREN-will be hampered by the participation deficit ". This type

of approaches should be worth by the result, but equally by the mobilization of wills and

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consensuses that are capable of generating, and which here was manifestly to be built.

Alarmingly Low Execution Rhythms

According to the available official data (see figure), it is confrangers to note that the

QREN's execution rates are greatly reduced and lower than the equivalents, in terms of

term of the Financial Programming Periods relating to the development of the CSF III

(2000-2006 vs. 2007-2013), something that is unanimously recognized and was recently

remembered by the AICEP president himself, Dr. Basilius Horta, by stating that " the QREN has

have had an unsatisfying application ", and that" the degree of percentage of application is very much

short of the possibilities. "

This means that the community funds associated with the QREN have not actually been

injected into the economy and society, this at a time when they would be more needed and

priority than ever before. Also add to this circumstance a strong risk, should it not have

place a quick inflection in the running rhythms, which relates to the eventuality of, already

at the end of the year 2010, Portugal come to have to return community funds to the Commission

European, for failure to comply with the guillotine rule "n + 3", despite its

softening, in the face of the previous "n + 2" rule, beholdant in the CSF III. In the opinion of the Court of Auditors

on the General Account of the State of 2008, warns of this same aspect, by referring that " the

low levels of financial implementation recorded in the Operational Programmes of the Framework of

National Strategic Reference endanger the fulfillment of the targets to be achieved already in

2010 ", given that the Community regulation" provides for the cancellation of the part of the authorisation

community budget not used until December 31 of the third year following that of your

approval ". It includes by this even a recommendation through which " the Court reiterates the

recommendation formulated in the previous Opinion in the sense that the acceleration is to be diligened

of the financial implementation of all the Operational Programmes of the Framework of Reference

National Strategic in such a way as to prevent the loss of monies that could result from the effects of the

rule "n + 3" and, so as not to occur new losses in the future, it recommends that if

diligene for timely preparation, material plan and financial plan, of a joint

of projects so that, in the various Operational Programs can be used all

appropriations made available by the European Commission. "

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1.5%

11.8%

24.9%

39.6%

51.9%

64.2%

75.7%

84.8%

1.90%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Dez-99 Jun-00 Dez-00 Jun-01 Dez-01 Jun-03 Dez-03 Jun-04 Dez-04 Jun-05 Dez-06 Jun-07 Dez-07 Jun-07 Dez-07 Jun-07 Dez-07

CSF III QREN

Jan-07 Dez-07 Dez-08 Jun-09 Dez-09

4.6% to 6.6%

Clash of Homologas Enforcement Rates (QREN versus CSF III)

Set-09

Jan-00

At the very low average run rate value (6.6% at the end of September 2009), we have to

add as well, reinforcing the above-mentioned concerns, the existence of several

Operational Programmes with enforcement fees (equally to September 2009) lower than

3%, as succeeding with the POVT, Cohesion Fund, Northern Operational Programs, Centre and

Alentejo.

This situation, in terms of deviations from the annual financial planning of the QREN, translates

in close to 7000 million Euros of community funds that were left to apply in

Portugal over the course of the triennium from 2007 a to 2009, contrary to the planned and agreed upon by

European Commission.

Insufficient Bet on the Economy and its Resilience

Of the totality of ERDF funds available under the QREN, only 30% are found

directed towards Research, Technological Development, Innovation and

Entrepreneurship, and much less yet, i.e., 0.3%, for the Increase of Capacities of

Adaptation of Workers, Companies and Entrepreneurs, something that in the current partner context-

economic should be assumed while absolute priority.

In turn, the targeted support for innovation lack a number of improvements.

Recent study results made for the European Commission show that in Portugal

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majority of companies are dissatisfied with public measures to support innovation,

pointing out flaws at the level of "execution and efficiency", and stating that " the support programs

did not match their expectations ". Respondents criticise still the morosity

associated with decision-making, in respect of projects whose implementation misses the whole

opportunity if it is not carried out in a speedy manner, suggesting for this even the creation of

Green routes of Analysis and Decision for this type of projects.

A recent analysis, conducted at the European level, of the state of implementation of the Strategy of

Lisbon, evidences also to be necessary, in the case of Portugal, to strengthen mechanisms of

evaluation and monitoring of results, as well as the networking between actors

diners of innovation.

Insufficient Approximation of SMEs

Even though belatedly, the Government seems to have recognised what the PSD and other parties

have been arguing for quite a long time: it is decisive and central the role of the almost 300000 SMEs

existing in Portugal in the construction of economic development, creation and maintenance

of jobs.

Unfortunately, the design of the QREN did not have this aspect in due account, as

explained in the opinions of the ESC, where it refers that in the QREN it is seen to the " omission of a

policy for the promotion of small and medium enterprises, even those of technological base, which

have been the driver of innovation of the Portuguese economy ".

One other recent study, which congregated responses given by more than 3000 SMEs (1% of the

universe), evidences that in more than 75% of cases the managers of SMEs do not come back in the

mode as the QREN has been drawn and is being managed. They consider it untuned to the

needs and most respondents claim even if they find themselves " totally

dissatisfied with various aspects of community supports for SMEs ".

To be put together at the low run rate, already evidenced, we have still the very low allocation of

resources that is targeted at SMEs. The indication taken by the QREN, in the sense of 60%

of the values assigned to companies correspond to SMEs, is manifestly insufficient.

It does matter, that yes, to set a sufficiently ambitious target at the level of the

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percentage of the total community fund values of the QREN, located at 21.4 thousand

million Euros, which should compulsorily correspond with projects that count on

SMEs as promoters and direct beneficiaries of those same funds. If necessary,

redirecting monies of major projects, investments and PIN, having at attention

particularly the opinions of the ESC, which point out that there is an " insufficient justification of the

allocation of high amount resources to major infrastructure projects ", to

others of smaller size, greater proximity and stimulation to the reinforcement of SME activity.

Supplementarely, even in larger projects, one of the evaluation criteria of the

merit of the applications, and follow-up of the subsequent implementation, should correspond

to the volume of business that they will generate from SMEs.

Finally, it is important to strengthen the possibility of the framework for applications submitted

by SMEs that are not limited exclusively to the IDI's themed, framing, among others,

also the following areas, with enhanced priority in the face of the current economic context and

social: modernization of their functioning and improvement of the quality of management; gains from

energy efficiency; participation in European projects; construction of prototypes and

experiences of implementation of solutions at the pilot scale; export support;

development of new products or services; creation of jobs.

At the present juncture, certain limitations should also be removed, by

example when it is required for an SME expressly to hire new collaborators,

to the detriment of the reallocation of internal human resources, while demanding departure

for the approval of certain applications.

It also urges to equate the creation of simplified, expedient and unbureaucratized avenues, in

particular to the presentation of small-scale projects by the

SMEs, through logics oriented towards their real needs.

As was recently recognized by the AICEP president himself, Dr. Basilius Horta, the

QREN not to be done to the measure of companies, has excessive bureaucracy and a low

use.

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Excessive Morosity

The decision deadlines associated with the approval of applications are generally found

above the objectives assumed at the headquarters of the respective Operational Programs (see Figure),

something that only does not succeed with the Regional Operational Programmes of Madeira and Lisbon. In

particular, it matters to have in attention the high average response time of the POVT part (157

days), and from the POPH (105 days, in the face of a 60-day target).

To these delays there is still to be added the way in which requests for claim or reexamination

of projects are dealt with. There are no set deadlines for processing these applications, which

they drag on for times more than a year unanswered, with the aggravating of any doubt

raised, regardless of their nature or value, as to the eligibility of expenses,

be able to be regarded as an impediment factor of the signing of contracts, making it impossible for this

mode the commencement of the implementation of the corresponding project until there is an answer in the face of

application for reconsideration presented.

With regard to the proper implementation of the approved projects, they are several

Operational Programmes where there are appreciable delays in the realization of the

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corresponding payment transfers. It is worth noting, in this purpose, that the

itself Gestor of the Northern Operational Program recognized him recently, stating

that " the run rate is modest, because the circuit of community funds is very much

complex and too slow for my liking. "

Reduced Selectivity

Having been the assumed selectivity while one of its main banners, in what it says

respect to the approval of projects applied to the QREN, has been registered a

progressive abandonment of this principle. There is, conversely, a reduction in merit fasteners

considered indispensable to the approval of applications, to the point of, by the end of

September 2009, have ended up to be approved more than 75% of applications

presented and admitted to the contest.

Excessive Bureaucracy

Contravening the successive guidelines, emanating from both the European Commission and the

European Court of Auditors, the QREN presents a tramway and administrative requirement

unnecessarily complex, bureaucratic and resource-absorbing. Imposing requirements

of documentary evidence that go almost always beyond the stipulation in the regulations

european management of community funds.

To be started since soon by the existence of close to a hundred different regulations,

which ends up to make even more complex something that at the outset should be simplified,

Notably by way of reducing the number of Operational Programmes of the QREN face to the

that existed in the duration of the CSF III. In what it touches to simplicity, from little upfront though to have

fewer Operational Programs when these then unfold in a complex web of

Axes, Measures, Programs, Contest Editals and Specific Regulations.

They often ask for elements to the promoters of applications that are not from

trivial achievement, in particular dealing with SMEs, and sometimes with need for repetition

of the redundant information launch, and which is supposed to be already the knowledge of the

own state.

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Also in the monitoring of the implementation of the projects, the perspective

adopted is almost exclusively administrative and bureaucratic (requiring, for example, a

thorough and detailed indirect costs of costs), to the detriment of an assessment

objective of the results actually achieved in terms of reinforcement of cohesion or

competitiveness.

As if all this is not enough, changes of rules are often imposed and

conditions in the middle of the game, i.e. when open tenders or projects are already in place

of implementation.

A symbolic example of the above, integrator of the various aspects referred to, is that of the

recent amendment, announced on the POVT website, of the co-funding stamp, which obliges

all the already existing beneficiaries to find a new stamp, different from the initially

pointed out (http://www.povt.qren.pt/tempfiles/20091109165258moptc.pdf).

Another pointing out, which does not cease to be significant, relates to the circumstance of the

own supporting guides in filling out forms, presented on the Internet, have

a close extension of the 50 pages.

Also in this regard the ESC opinions are unequivocal, in defending " the simplification

of the procedures for the analysis of eligibility and certification of expenditure (the Simplex justifies-

if also in the QREN), it is recommended to accentue more the logic of the evaluation of

results, than that of the documentary check ".

Quality of Decisions

The way in which the appreciation and approval of applications are conducted is of

diverse and important gaps, aspects for which the ESC opinions have already been warning, to the

they refer to be " nuclear that selectivity is realized on the basis of strict criteria and

objectives ":

 Under the mask of a pretense objective assessment of merit, the editais are common

of contest with a grid of criteria, sub-criteria and sub-subcriteria of valorisation

that, in addition to some cases being of a questionable nature, they end up creating grills

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and analysis procedures so complex that, despite the illusion of an apparent rigor,

do not lead to a capable or effective analysis of the intrinsic merit of the projects

candidates;

 On merit assessments, conducted particularly by external experts, are after

added additional valuations, with criteria not always clear, on the part of the

internal structures of management of the Operational Programs, or of political ind,

resulting in a mixture of appreciations where the objective evaluation of merit ends

by staying diluted;

 There is an obvious interference and overlap, on the part of the Government, as to the

approval or non-approval of certain applications, regardless of the

its technical merit. Here they include, among others, the mandatory emissions of

opinions, on the part of certain Ministries, which are to feed several

applications, creating a "drawer veto" mechanism, sometimes conducted

through a simple omission, when the admissibility of certain

applications is impaired by refusal of timely issuance of the said

opinions. At another level, the Government has been reserved the right to casuistically

decide, for example, what are the applications of authorities that may or may not be

excepted for possible contribution effects to their net levels of

borrowing;

 On the fair measure in which the nature of the applications mandates a greater qualification

technique of who appreciates them, at the level of their merit, has been found to subsist

in various measures a lack of specific competence, from indole not merely

administrative, on the part of technicians who are faced with the appreciation of

applications in multiple sectors of activity, with a diversified nature and by

relatively relatively elaborate. In spite of all their dedication and commitment, not

may in these circumstances issue a correct assessment or statement of reasons for the

merit of the projects presented, as well as of the respective elegibilities of

expense;

 Complementarily, rather than mere cabinet work, it is suggested that the

evaluators take contact on the ground with the respective promoters, opening

also the possibility of these making an oral presentation of their motivations,

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including the provision of additional relevant clarifications by this route;

 The merit of promoter entities should be increasingly an important part and

member of the overall merit assessment of the applications submitted to the contest.

Computer Systems

Being to welcome the gradual evolution towards informatics systems of submission and appreciation of

applications, as well as monitoring of the implementation of the projects, there is the

following deficiencies at this level:

 The different Operational Programs have adopted informatics platforms

differentiated and without an automatic integration, which impairs promoters of

projects, and hinders a consolidated real-time management of the QREN;

 Several of the computer devices have only been made available and fully

developed already with the respective Operational Programs running, creating

various types of difficulties, inconsistencies and even some caricate situations

upon their gradual entry into operation;

 The informatics platforms supporting the submission of applications are little

user-oriented, obliges redundant launches of information, and

inviabilize the automatic import / export of data between them and applications

common use informatics, which creates need for constant transfers

data manuals, with the unnecessary squanderment of resources and the occurrence of

mistakes that would be of all unnecessary. They also prevent the possibility of

merger of the inputs coming from various people working for a same project,

figurine more and more common, even in the context of SMEs. This type of limitations

should be similarly outdated with regard to the applications employed for

if you do the monitoring of approved projects.

Imposition of Reductive Territorial Logics at the Level of Supramunicipality

By making exhausting the possibilities of contractualization of project management in a single

territorial pattern of supramunicipality, based on a logic of NUTS III, the QREN

disavested existing dynamics, with another type of geographical setting, at the same

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time that artificially forced the creation of others, nor that it is from the point of view

merely administrative and bureaucratic. Such an option translated not only into losses

significant of potential effective supramunicipal collaboration, as still in delays in its

practical, legal and administrative implementation. In this connection, the opinions of the ESC

suggested and well that the criteria for geographical collaboration should be " guided more by

factors of territorial homogeneity or typology of institutions, than by artificialisms

statistical (case of NUTS III for the Associations of Municipalities). "

Alhement of the Principle of Subsidiarity

Contravening the principle of subsidiarity, central to the entire conceptual matrix of the Union

European, as well as in the genesis of the respective policies and instruments of support for

regional development, in the QREN, more than in any other CSF, it is assists with a

clear attempt at design and centralised management.

Since soon, by only being allocated 34% of the total community funds available to

Regional Base Operational Programmes, where the Regions of Portugal are located in

Convergence Objective, in accordance with the criteria adopted by the European Commission.

Additionally, there is no real significant differentiation between the contents of the

various Regional Operational Programmes, not so little Regional Operational Programmes

directed towards the formation of Human Capital, supported in the European Social Fund

(exception made for the Azores and Madeira).

Also here the ESC opinions have been warning from soon to " the emptying of

competences of the regional programmes, in particular with regard to the management of the ESF, and the

timidity of the development of the contrupgrade models with associations of municipalities

and business, "being these" troubling signs ".

Finally, the QREN points to a distribution of decision-making responsibilities, which, of

formal or informal mode, translates, as it never turns out previously, in a clear

centralization and intervention of the Government and its representatives in all processes of

decision, including the unilateral designation of the Managers of all Operational Programs

(even the Regional Base), as well as the inclusion of representatives of the Government in all

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the decisional structures. Even in cases where there is place to contractures mechanisms

(intermediate bodies), it is apparent that, instead of there being a real delegation of

responsibilities and competences, the management structures of Operational Programs, not

Limiting themselves to supervising and auditing the mechanisms of management, monitoring and control

of the managing entities of the contrupdated programmes, end up doing, in no way

redundant, a second analysis of the respective projects, with all manner of accruals of

morosity and dispersion of resources that such entails.

Again here the ESC opinions denounce the existence of a " centralized model of

design, organisation and management of Operational Programs. "

Strong critiques of the authorities, and their representatives, are also known,

relatively to how the QREN was designed and is to be implemented, something

which has been repeatedly pointed out in particular in the course of the 18º Congress of the Association

National of Portuguese Municipalities, recently held.

Alhement of the Principle of Regional Development

Owing to the QREN is essentially intended to promote the development of the NUT regions

II of Portugal in the aim of convergence, in the light of the European criteria, the way in which the

QREN has been designed and has been being managed to subvert in good measure this same logic.

In addition to the aspects already mentioned above, there is an attempt to find diverse

types of subterfuge in the sense of making redirecting to the Region of Lisbon resources that

should be applied predominantly in the northern regions, Centro, in the Alentejo and Azores.

This has been coming and will be able to continue to succeed, notably through the way they are

managed funds directed towards the support of Science, Research and Development, the

development of Competitiveness and Technology Policies, or still through the way

close to 170 million Euros of community funds have been already allocated to the Region of Lisbon,

through the singular mechanism of "spill-over".

Under the pretext of there being projects developed in Lisbon that have diffusive effects

positives, which will supposedly contribute to the development of the regions more

disadvantaged in the Country (something that is decided unilaterally, without the respective

regions have even been able to confirm the interest they have glimpsed in the

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referred to projects), the spill-over can take on worrisful contours. It is a

mechanism that contravenes the regional development logics embraced by the Union

European, justified in the light of the QREN as a result of the fact that Portugal " is one of the few

Member States where the phenomena of capitality are especially significant ". No

it cees to be something contradictory and paradoxical that this recognition is used as a base

argumentative to justify an increased allocation of community funds to the Region of

Lisbon, in it concentrating different projects and the installation of most of the services of

technical assistance from the QREN, financed through the said spill-over mechanism. Must

be underlined that this principle, by itself unheard of and questionable, aims to strictly justify the

application of community funds in Lisbon when these pretentiously have " effects

that are spread by the remaining regions ", being" considered very relevant to the

development of the target regions Convergence ". The framing document itself

QREN points out that " these typologies of interventions constitute exceptional cases,

duly justified in function of the nature of the operations and the multiplier effect that

cause in regions distinct from those in which the investment takes place ". Pronouncing

on this matter, which requires permanent attention, the Minister of Economy, Innovation and

Development has limited itself to stating that it understands that the spill-over mechanism, in its

opinion, "has every reason to be", which appears to be manifestly insufficient while

guarantee of the non-existence of distortions in their practical application.

In summary, positive differentiations, associated with objectives of strengthening territorial cohesion,

combating desertification and fixation of populations in the interior, are manifestly

insufficient in the context of the design and application of the QREN, something to which the opinions of the

CES already pointed out, referring to the risks of being contributing to " creating large areas of

economic and human desertification. "

Constant Changes of Rules

In the different Operational Programs has been assisted with a constant change of rules

applicable, deadlines to be complied with and procedures adopted, often when the

contests are already taking place, or even close to end, as he succeeded with frequent

changes of editations or deadlines for submission of applications, the change of which took place

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on the verge of exhausting the previously assumed calendar for closing the period of

submission of applications.

All these turbulence translates into habits of lack of rigor, in the creation of various types

of relative injustices, and in an ineffective management of resources by the promoters of

applications and from society in general.

Disarticulation between Operational Programs and Concourses

The mechanisms of articulation between the different Operational Programmes, Axes and Measures,

have proven to be insufficient. It is not unusual to note the existence of overlaps of

amber, in addition to an obvious disarticulation in the tendering deadlines of the contests, which

provoke a disappropriate management of means by the promoters, faced with

deadlines for delivery of related applications for different Operational Programs.

The non-existence of timely and consolidated disclosure of tender schedules

that will be open, by all the Operational Programs, creating a single map

aggregate, has implicated significant, atribulated and unnecessary disturbances.

Reduced Bet on Proximity Investments

In the current social and economic context, it matters to redirect the QREN in the sense of bearing

proximity investments, managed in a deconcentrated way, while vehicles of

economic stimulus, job creation and the strengthening of territorial cohesion.

An interesting example of the following type of approach, and their respective potential results,

is the adopted in Spain, where throughout 2009 the "State Fund for" program was launched

Location Investment ", depicted in the publication of the European Commission entitled" Recovering from

the Crisis: 27 ways of tackling the employment challenge ", to be continued in 2010, face

to the good results achieved. By way of this initiative, in Spain they were approved 30000

projects, coming from 8000 concelhos, each of them representing investments from

proximity to size of less than 5 million Euros, but which have translated globally

in an investment in 2009 of 5000 million Euros, which benefited 14000 enterprises (SMEs

in the overwhelming majority of cases), and resulted in the creation of 420000 jobs.

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Complexity of the Governance Model

The management and follow-up structures of the QREN, and their respective Operational Programs,

established in accordance with the guidelines of DL 312/2007, are extremely complex,

including an immensity of entities, bodies and decision-making processes, with evident

dilution of responsibilities, unnecessary delays, and lack of clarity as to what are the

exact domains of competence of each other, not being infrequent the promoters of

projects to see themselves confronted with opinions, advisories and contradictory decisions,

depending on the interlocutors to whom they are headed within the various structures or

substructures of the QREN.

It will be worthwhile to remember, in this connection, the opinion issued by the ESC opinions, which

have considered from the outset that the proposed governance model for the QREN " maintains the

characteristics of political insetting, multiplicity of organs without hierarchy and a

trend towards concentration and centralization ", through a model that raises" strong

doubts, not only in relation to excessive centralization as to their coherence (or inconsistency) ".

There is also a clear absence of balanced or sufficient involvement from the different

stakeholders and civil society in the structures of management and monitoring of the

QREN, in particular with regard to the intervention of agents who are in the

terrain, knowing better than anyone the concrete realities for which the QREN se

must direct.

Also here feels an excessive propensity to governmentalize the whole

functioning of the QREN, with the DL 312/2007 to be set up at the summit a ministerial committee of

coordination that integrates six ministers, to which they will be joined together after Ministries Ministerials of

Coordination of the different Operational Programs, the existence of a member of the Government

which chairs the Strategic Monitoring Committees of Operational Programs

Regional as well as Managing Authorities of Operational Programs named by the

Government, Commissions Directives of Regional Operational Programs with three of five

elements designated by the Government, or still the existence of a Technical Commission of

Coordination of the QREN also uniquely appointed by the Government.

Strengthening of Transparency, Accessibility and Rapidity of Information

In spite of the efforts made, in the sense of being provided an increased amount of

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information on the Internet, we are still far from seeing a consolidation between Programs

Operational that allows, in real time or at least with monthly update, to consult

in a simple and expeditious manner, through databases with research mechanisms and

data export, the following minimum information, aggregated from all Programs

Operational (similar to the succeeding in other nations): data from applications,

approval, implementation and certification of expenditure, description of promoters and projects

approved, with indication of the respective typologies, descriptions, volumes of funding

approved and executed.

It also matters to strengthen the capacity to prepare and make available the reports of

implementation of the different Operational Programs, as so far not yet if

they find even accessible the implementation reports referring to the year 2008 for the

following Operational Programs: Competitiveness Factors, Operational Programs of the

Centre, Lisbon, Algarve and Technical Assistance.

In this framework, the mechanisms of provision of provision should also be strengthened and routinised.

accounts, monitoring and monitoring, here if including the desirable monthly submission of

consolidated information of progress concerning the QREN for the Assembly of the Republic and the

holding of quarterly meetings with your Committee on Economics by the

maximum responsible QREN.

The Court of Auditors, in its opinion on the General Account of the State of 2008, states that "

2008 State General Account continues to not evidenced, in aggregate form, the execution

budget of community funds, finding these values disseminated in the various

economic classification items relating to the implementation of the various services and bodies which

integrate it. This gap violates the provisions of the budget framework Act. " Thus being,

adds as a recommendation that " the General Account of the State passes to include information

systematized, by community fund, with respect to the implementation and budgetary implementation of the

appropriations transferred within the framework of community funds. "

Extension of the Base of Potential Project Promoters

In different editations of contests the range of potential promoters who can present

applications is overly limited to departure, which may harm the

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presentation of meritorious projects, as well as their subsequent realization, by mere

administrative impediments, of a somewhat artificial and arbitrary nature.

Strengthening of the Guideline for the Infants

The management philosophy, and corresponding operating machine of QREN follow-up,

find themselves insufficiently oriented towards the true needs of users, and

overly fragmented, according to internal organic options, centered on

Operational Programmes, specific functions, Axes, Measures and Concourses in concrete. Loses-

if so an integrated, joint, or one-stop view, oriented towards the search side and

the needs of the potential promoters of projects.

At the same time, the formal monitoring mechanisms of the degrees of

satisfaction of users, as well as non-existant systematic promotion initiatives on the ground

of the possibilities opened up by the QREN, of use of the figures of "mystery client", or still

of recourse to "focus groups" to identify needs and eventual opportunities for

improvement in the type of services provided and their quality assured levels and

noticeable. It prevails over this a logic predominantly aimed inward, from

intimate merely administrative and financial evaluation of success, and so even

limited.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Of all the above said, it stems with clarity that, despite some aspects

unquestionably positive, there are several and important gaps associated with design and

implementation of the QREN. Some practical consequences are already unrecoverable. However, in a

moment in which the conjuncture we live in is the current one, and in which the Government itself,

recognizing the registered failures, has chosen to redefine the management responsibilities of the

QREN, within its own organic, having the Minister of Economics, Innovation and

Development admitted that in the matter of QREN urge to do more and better, and stated that

wants to make it " an instrument of combating the crisis and modernization of the economy

portuguese ", it matters that the changes to be carried out are conducted through a process

extended participation and collection of input, where they naturally include those from

of the Assembly of the Republic.

In these terms, the Assembly of the Republic resolves, under the provisions of paragraph 5 of the article

166 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, on the basis of the argumentation already exposed,

recommend to the Government to proceed urgently to a reprogramming,

redirecting and reengineering of the QREN, guided by the following principles and measures:

1. The Government, through a participatory and shared process, shall explain

clearly and in objective mode what is the Country that ambitious that Portugal come to be

in the year 2015, owing QREN to be instrumental in its construction.

2. The Government should publicly take over the QREN's implementation rate objectives that

commits to see achieved at the end of 2010 and 2011.

3. The means made available to foster the capacity of

adaptation of people and organisations to the times of change and crisis that

we live, at the same time as, in collaboration with the respective parties

interested, ways to improve public policies should be identified,

enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the targeted means for the promotion of the following

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vectors, whose priority now assumes redoubled importance: innovation,

internationalization, sustainability, quality and energy efficiency, with focus

particular in SMEs.

4. From the point of view of the devolined territorial implementation of the Strategy of

Lisbon, the QREN should foster in a strengthened manner the implementation of models of

innovation based on triple helix (conjugation of efforts of authorities, companies and

higher education), associated with the systematic management of ecosystems and pipelines of

transfer of technology.

5. In close collaboration with its recipients, urge to strengthen the betting of the QREN

in SMEs, and the Government should make a quantitative commitment to value

percent of the total of 21.4 thousand million Euros of community funds from QREN that

must have as promoters and direct beneficiaries the SMEs.

6. The increased bet of the QREN in SMEs should translate into a broadening of the scope of

respective applications, allowing to help in a strengthened manner the following aspects,

made especially pressing in the current situation: introduction of improvements in the

management capacities installed; support for exports; creation of jobs;

gains from energy efficiency; stimulus to participation in European IDI projects;

development of new products or services; support for the construction of prototypes and the

implementation of solutions at the pilot scale.

7. Take as criteria for evaluation of applications submitted to all the

Operational Programmes, when the promoters are not SMEs, the volume of

additional invoicing that the concretization of the corresponding projects will

represent together with SMEs.

8. Ensure greater speed in all steps of appraisal of applications and in the

implementation of projects, ensuring that the corresponding deadlines are shortened and

effectively complied with, which define deadlines for the analysis of complaints and that

these are not impediments to the start-up of the successful projects, the

less of the outstanding issues of reanalysis.

9. Flexibilise, simplify and substantially extend payments made to title

of advances or against the submission of invoices, in particular when the

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promoters of projects are authorities or SMEs, so as to accelerate the

implementation of the projects and increment the implementation rates of the QREN and

respective operating programs.

10. Introduce measures of administrative simplification and de-bureaucratization to all

levels, making prevalent criteria for analysis of the results actually prevail

achieved, at the level of competitiveness and / or cohesion, on mere validation

bureaucratic of procedures, in the entire lifecycle of applications, and

subsequent projects.

11. Improving the quality of approval decisions, through a true logic of

analysis of the intrinsic merit of the projects and their promoters, of the adoption of

simple but objective methodologies of appreciation, and with a real separation of

areas of intervention, between the technical level and the political level, without interferences

constants of the latter, even when such extravasa clearly established it in

seat of the assumed regulations and procedures.

12. Implement different improvements in the computer systems for supporting the management of the

multiple Operational Programs, making them much more forward-looking

needs of the promoters of applications and projects, at the same time as if

ensures complete integration between all information systems platforms

existing, in articulated mode and with automatic consolidation of data, in time

real.

13. Strengthening appropriations associated with Regional Operational Programmes, fostering

by way of this even a real bet on regional development and cohesion

territorial, achieved through initiatives of proximity and in respect of the principle

of subsidiarity, including much higher levels of decentralization and

de-concentration in the whole management of the QREN.

14. Limit application in the Lisbon Region of community funds through the mechanism

from "spill-over" to truly exceptional cases, obligatorily recognized

previously as such by the majority of Regions in Convergence Objective,

by the diffusive effects that actually represent for them, and within

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a maximum value of reduced community funds and assumed since already for the whole

period of financial programming from 2007 a to 2013.

15. Reforcing the targeted criteria and mechanisms to increase territorial cohesion,

combatting desertification and fixing populations in low-density territories

population.

16. Improving the mechanisms of articulation between the different Operational Programs,

avoiding possible overlaps, redundancies or temporal coincidences,

assuming a schedule of consolidated tenders, released in a timely

and without constant last-minute changes.

17. Redefine, from the summit to the base, the governance models of the QREN and their respective

Operational Programmes, ensuring by way of this even a simplification and

clarification of responsibilities, the existence of true decentralization,

deconcentrisation and mobilization of the relevant actors in the monitoring of the

execution, evaluation and review of the QREN.

18. Create automatic and integrative, ICT-based, and integrative mechanisms that contemplates the

provision on the Internet, in real time, of a database, with

possibilities for research, import and export of information, which allows

get to know comprehensively the approved projects, their execution and promoters, well

as the respective typologies, in the whole of the QREN, and, likewise, in a way

disaggregated, through the same data base, depending on the different Programs

Operational, your Axes, Measures or Concourses, all of this in a single platform

common information.

19. Submit monthly to the Assembly of the Republic data related to developments

verified in QREN and respective Operational Programs, including indicators

updated from follow-up.

20. Reinforce the guidance of the QREN, and its Operational Programs, to the respective

users and promoters of applications, including the adoption of mechanisms

independent measurement of the satisfaction of the same, adoption of "customer" measures

mystery "," focus groups ", creation of" one-stop shop " approaches (it is suggested that in

all district capitals there is a small team highlighted from the assistance

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technique, deeply knowledgeable of all operational programmes and

regulations, empowered to understand the global needs of a given

potential promoter of projects, advising it and forwarding it to the

most suitable frameworks in QREN headquarters), as well as of teams of

promotion of the QREN that should be present on the ground, sweeping it through

visits to be carried out with the economic and social actors of the different regions, with

particular focus on those that are still in target of convergence, by

how to make known the potentialities of the QREN at multiple levels (one

similar approach, adopted in times by the Innovation Agency, translated into

in excellent results, in particular through the registered membership of

many SMEs to new bets in the field of innovation).

Assembly of the Republic, January 28, 2010

The Deputies,