The Setúbal Peninsula is the fourth poorest region in the country

The Peninsula of Setúbal is the fourth poorest region in the country and the one that is the most remote from the European average, following the loss of community funds, warned Thursday the Development Platform of the Peninsula of Setúbal (PDPS).

"The peninsula of Setúbal is the region of Portugal that is the most remote from the European average," said Antoine Velge, president of AISET, one of the founding associations of the platform .

The economic and social status of the region is also constituted by the Association of Industry of the Peninsula of Setúbal, the Association of Trade and Tourism of Setúbal (ACISTDS), the Caritas Diocesan of Setúbal and the Movement of the Thought of Setúbal.

According to Antoine Velge, between 2000 and 2016, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of the Setúbal Peninsula rose from 68% of the European average to 55%. "

The same official also pointed out that according to

The platform has therefore conducted a study to prove that these indicators are related to the insertion of the Setúbal Peninsula in NUTS II and III of the zone

"The inclusion of the Península de Setúbal in the Lisbon metropolitan area (AML) caused the region to lose its identity and its own characteristics, as well as the" 19659002 ". form wants to help the Setúbal peninsula "to regain access to the community funds to which it is entitled, by helping to stimulate the region and the

AISET secretary and author of the study, Carlos Martins, demonstrated in the presentation that "both regions have conditions to be autonomous NUTS II."

To be considered NUTS II, it is necessary

"Indeed, the Peninsula of Setúbal has 782 thousand inhabitants, so we have the conditions to have a specific treatment," he explained.

In addition, according to the author of the study, the municipalities of Península de Setúbal, although they correspond to "28% of the total resident population of the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon", only contribute "9% of the gross value added of the companies."

Another indicator of "discordance" according to Carlos Martins, is the fact that six of the municipalities of the Setúbal Peninsula have an income of less than five thousand euros per capita, while on the north shore of the Tagus , only Odivelas has lower incomes.

in the Setúbal peninsula, because there are many people working on the north shore, but when there is unemployment, they enroll in their area of ​​residence, "explains he

. Antoine Velge also stated that "more than 150,000 people travel to the North Coast each day to work, resulting in economic costs, sacrifices in family life and environmental costs"

. To conclude the presentation of the study, Carlos Martins recalled that the Setúbal Peninsula and the north bank of the AML "are two regions with two developmental speeds, two social dimensions and two distinct territories."

says that "the Peninsula of Setúbal has characteristics to constitute a new NUTS II and is by right, a NUTS III."

The President of the Diocesan Caritas of Setúba Domingos Sousa pointed out that the social institution located at the seat of the council "is the second largest in the country, which is not a question d & # 39; honor, but of concern. "

In contacting the findings of the study, that "there is a potential to work, in the sense of changing the state of things", even because "without economic development, there can be no to create jobs and improve living conditions ".

Also Vice President of the Pensubal Setúbal Movement stressed that "it is important that the Setúbal Peninsula has development conditions similar to other regions."

Also, according to Carlos Martins, Alto Tâmega, Douro, Trás-os-Montes, Beiras and Serra da Estrela, Alto Alentejo, Central Alentejo and the Autonomous Region of the Azores "present an economic development lower than the Setúbal Peninsula and are regarded as NUTS II. "

The lawyer associated with the platform, Amélia Nunes, and

The official however indicated that, because of the "particular reality of the peninsula", a "new regulatory framework" should be found According to Antoine Velge, the next steps are to "continue to alert and ask for help from all the public structures in the country, and in particular the European Commission, until the peninsula of Setúbal is again enjoyable "ACISTDS President, Francisco Carriço, also said that" there is a lack of joining local authorities ", which he hopes will happen in a second phase.

On May 22 this year, the platform to Secretary of State for Development and Cohesion, Nelson de Sousa