Élia Ascensão, mayor of Santa Cruz representing JPP, argued that municipalities need to have an effective role in defining programs and accessing European funds. This position was expressed at the opening of the debate on "Municipal access to European funds," which took place at Hotel Vila Galé in Santa Cruz.
The mayor stated that "the true access begins before the opening of the notices" and extends through project execution, emphasizing the need for municipal involvement in all phases of the European funding process.
Ascensão also warned about the difficulties that municipal councils face in transforming community support into concrete projects, highlighting the bureaucratic and technical obstacles that limit the absorption capacity of European funds by local authorities.
The debate brought together local authority officials to discuss strategies that allow municipalities better access to European funds, at a time when the management and attraction of these financial resources is considered fundamental for local development.
