European sustainable development rural actor database


Portugal

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Coordinate
Language:
Portuguese

Currency:
Euro
Area:
92,072.00

Population:
10.60

Density:
115.10

GIP:
147

GIP per cap.:
13,950.00

Political regime:
Republic

Head of State:
M. Anibal Cavaco Silva (Social Democratic Party – PSD)
Head of governement:
M. José Socrates (Socialist Party– PS)
Eutropean Union Membership:
1986
National anthem:
A Portuguesa (The Portuguese)
Generals Informations


Administrative organization
Rural life
Sustainability


Administrative organization

Form of State: unitary State.
Exclusive legislative powers cover all fields. The State has general powers in areas of national sovereignty, and administrative powers other than those assigned to local authorities
Interesting ministries:

  • Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Regional Development. Minister: M. Francisco Nunes Correia.
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. Minister: M. Jaime Silva.

Administrative units

Name

Number

Competences

NUTS 1

Continente

3

NUTS 2

Comissões de

coordenação régional (5 regional coordination commissions) + Regiões autónomas (2 autonomous regions)

7

Responsibilities of Regional Coordination Commissions

- Coordination of technical, financial and administrative support for local authorities

- Implementation of regional development measures Responsibilities of Autonomous Regions (Madeira and Azores)

- Power to pursue their own specific interests

- Power to participate in national policy making

- Power to defend their autonomous status at the Constitutional Court

NUTS 3

Grupos de Concelhos

30

LAU 1

Concelhos -

Municípios (municipalities)

308

Administration of assets, rural and urban facilities

Establishment of the public energy, transport and communications network

Education, culture

Powers shared with the parishes

LAU 2

Freguesias (parishes)

4257

Powers shared with the municipality

- Local development and environmental protection

- Public network

- Health and sanitation

- Protection of children and the elderly

- Education, culture and sports

Exclusive responsibilities

- Administration of parish property

- Electoral register

- Public works

- Upkeep of public highways

Total public expenditure: € 70.3 billions = 47.7 % GDP.
Sub-national public expenditure: € 9.1 billions = 6.2% GDP = 12.9% total public expenditure.

Rural life

Utilized agricultural area: 40.7% total area, i.e. about 37,473 km2.
Rural population: 42.4% total population.
Labour force in agriculture: 370,000 Annual Work Units (AWU).
Unemployment rate by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 10%
  • Intermediate areas: 6.5%
  • Thinly populated areas: 6.6%

Employment rate by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 65.6%
  • Intermediate areas: 68.8%
  • Thinly populated areas: 69.4%

Youth unemployment ratio by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 7.7%
  • Intermediate areas: 6.1%
  • Thinly populated areas: 6.7%
  • Total: 6.9%

Share of organic area in total utilised agricultural area: 6.3%.

Sustainability

The Portuguese Council of Ministers approved the National Framework Strategy for Sustainable Development (ENDS) in May 2002. Based both on international issues and a territorial approach, it addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development through 4 strategic pillars:

  • Territory as a good to be preserved
  • Improvement in environmental quality
  • Sustainable production and consumption of economic activities
  • Progress towards a knowledge-based society and solidarity society

These strategic pillars are further refined in the following principle lines of action:

  • Promote efficient use of natural resources
  • Promote sustainable territorial policies
  • Value and protect biodiversity as well as landscapes
  • Integration of environmental considerations in sectoral policies
  • Promote environmental integration in sectoral policies - decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental impacts
  • Promote changes in production and consumption patterns
  • Establish strategic partnerships aimed at the modernisation of the economic and social activities
  • Promote employment, education, academic qualifications, research, technological co-operation envisaging (to advance) competitiveness in Portugal
  • Develop education, consciousness, information, participation and access to justice and responsibilities in the area of sustainable development
  • Evaluate and analyse: systematically monitor progress by means of indicators
  • Focus on Portugal’s long term responsibilities

The lead institution for the implementation of the SDS is the Ministry for Urban Affairs, Land Planning and the Environment. However, each ministry is also responsible for the implementation of his field’s policies.
Environmental protection expenditure in the public sector: 0.6 % of GDP, i.e. 78 € per capita.
Government expenditure on environmental protection, in % of GDP: 0.7%.
Government expenditure on environmental protection, in % of total government expenditure: 1.4%.
Area protected under the Habitats Directive as a percentage of total area: 17.4%.