SCHOOL RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PT

Investments in the recovery and rehabilitation of existing 451 schools across Portugal.

The project's main objectives are to provide better learning conditions for primary and secondary students, by upgrading the public education infrastructure and equipment, and to adapt the school network to changes in the local demand.

The Project concerns the modernisation of public facilities offering the second and third cycle of basic education and upper-secondary education throughout Portugal. About 39% of the total school stock for the targeted educational levels will benefit from an upgraded infrastructure. Such investments will accelerate the modernisation of the teaching and learning environment, which is expected to translate into improved education quality, creating positive externalities with significant benefits in the short and long term, in terms of skills development, improved social cohesion and economic growth. The investments targeting climate change mitigation will also have positive externalities, as they contribute to the construction of a more sustainable future.

The Project is fully aligned with the national, regional and local priorities in education and with the objectives of the EIB's Innovation, Digital and Human Capital policy goal and the EU's European Education Area 2025 initiative. Furthermore, 69.7% of the Project's investments support the strengthening of the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion.

The Bank's financial contribution to the Project is very good thanks to conditions more favourable than market alternatives (lower pricing, longer tenor and disbursement periods, etc.). The value added provided by the EIB is even more tangible under the current market volatility, impacted by the ongoing geopolitical issues.

Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) does not specifically cover educational activities, leaving it at the discretion of the responsible competent authorities to request an EIA on the basis of the location and scale of the works concerned. However, schools may fall under Annex II of EIA Directive 2011/92/EU with respect to urban development. Social and environmental aspects as well as any issues related to historical and cultural heritage will be verified during the appraisal. This includes verification of compliance with accessibility features for people with reduced mobility. The project will include new buildings and renovations, which will comply with the 2010/31/EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency. The project will include investments located in less developed regions as defined by the EU cohesion policy. Therefore, the project is expected to support the strengthening of the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion. Moreover, the Project will contribute to better-balanced territorial development, counteracting excessive concentration, strengthening secondary growth poles and reducing inequalities between people and between places. The Project is expected to contribute to climate action and environmental sustainability (CA&ES) objectives, in particular to climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources.

The Bank will require the Promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project have been or will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU as well as Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.