By: EDUARDO OLIVEIRA COSTA
Eduardo Oliveira Costa is a journalist and publisher of several newspapers across Portugal. He is on the board of several organisations, is president of a football club, and has a keen interest in the press, among other media, and the business environment.
IRELAND WAS a case of success of European integration. The specialists explain some reasons…
Between them, the bet was on its people. This country, that also received millions to become modernised, practically didn’t invest in motorways. It also doesn’t have ten imposing football stadiums, neither did it have an ‘expo’, or other important tourism related events. It was its own choice. It seems to have worked.
Clearly it must have had a lot of influence regarding the IRC’s reduction to ten percent, when ours was above thirty! And it appeared to have started to collect more tax!
We now have the Union’s last large cheque. It is destined to develop those regions that are most behind in the integration process. And Lisbon isn’t one of them.
However, a good part of this money is going to be invested in… Lisbon! Public works to transform the Tejo’s ‘Marginal’ area was enough to be classified ‘of national interest’, among other examples!
We don’t doubt that this, and other public works, will help our capital become more competitive and modern. What we have serious doubts about is that these investments made in Lisbon can help the Northern Region or the Alentejo to improve its own development!
We continue to be equal to ourselves!
