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Committee for the Evaluation and Supervision of Projects of Potential National Importance (PIN)

System for the Designation and Supervision of Projects of Potential National Importance (PIN)
Executive Summary

1. The System’s goal is to stimulate entrepreneurial investment related to activities capable of: broadening present economic framework, creating skilled employment and presenting innovative features.

2. The system places no restrictions on the type of investment project (greenfield development, acquisition) or on the nature of the capital provided. However, the system does not apply to certain sectors, namely commerce, finance, real estate, education and health and social work. In case of partnerships there must be some kind of binding legal relationship between the companies.

3. Projects can be classified as PIN and qualify for special support if they fulfil the following criteria:

a) They involve an overall investment of more than €25 million;

b) They can be shown to be economically viable, and the investor is suitably experienced and reputable;

c) They seek to establish a production base that is strongly integrated into the domestic market and a generator of gross added value;

d) They are in line with the development priorities defined in current strategic planning documents, in particular: National Strategy for Sustainable Development, Technology Plan, National Programme for Spatial Planning Policy, National Strategic Plan for Tourism, National Energy Strategy, Logistics Portugal;

e) They can demonstrate adequate environmental and spatial sustainability;

f) They will have a positive impact on at least five of the following areas:

i) The production of innovative, tradable goods and services that give them a clear advantage over the competition in markets with potential for growth;

ii) Spill-over effects in upstream and downstream activities, namely in small and medium-sized enterprises;

iii) The introduction of innovative technological processes, or collaboration with entities in the scientific and technological establishment;

iv) The creation of a minimum of 100 direct and qualified (by certified trainers) jobs;

v) Forming part of regional development strategies or contributing to the economic growth of interior or less developed regions;

vi) The balance of foreign trade, namely by increasing exports or reducing imports;

vii) Energy efficiency or favouring renewable energy sources.

4. Projects involving an investment of €25 million or less can also be recognised as PIN projects if they include a strong element of Research & Development (R&D) or applied innovation, or if they are of manifest value to the environment. Such projects must also fulfil the conditions stated above.

5. Tourism projects, apart from the requirements described in no. 3 above, must also satisfy the following criterion:

a) Hotels must have a minimum 5-star classification, and tourism developments must include at least one 5-star hotel, with none of the remaining facilities possessing less than a 4-star classification.

The criteria described in no. 3 above are applied within the parameters established in the appendix to the regulations.

The process of designating and monitoring a PIN project is independent and does not affect any other procedures with the relevant authorities, even if the project is already underway at the time an application is made.

Applications for designation as PIN will not be accepted from projects that are dependent on the results of a public tender or the resolution of legal disputes involving the state.

The same project may include several investments provided that the overall structure is coherent, demonstrating its feasibility and territorial and environmental sustainability. Although these investment projects do not have to be geographically contiguous, a project’s global impact must be coherent.

To this effect the government has created the Committee for the Evaluation and Supervision of Projects of Potential National Importance, formed by representatives of the following entities:

Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal, E.P.E. (Aicep Portugal Global - Business Development Agency), responsible for coordinating the Committee’s activities;
IAPMEI – Instituto de Apoio às Pequenas e Médias Empresas e à Inovação, I.P. (Institute for the Support of SME and Innovation)
Turismo de Portugal, I.P. (The National Tourism Authority);
Direcção-Geral de Ordenamento do Território e Desenvolvimento Urbano (Directorate-General for Spatial Planning and Urban Development);
Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (Portuguese Environment Agency);
Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade (Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity).

This committee is responsible for the designation and supervision of PIN projects. Designation of PIN projects depends on a formal request being presented by the interested parties. The committee’s final decision must be delivered within 30 working days of the date on which the application is filed. If the committee makes requests for additional information, the waiting period is counted from the date on which the last missing piece of information is presented.

Relevant legislation:

Implementing Order no. 547/2009, of 25 May, regulates the procedures for special registration operations
Ministerial Order no. 30850/2008, of 28 November, which consolidates the scheme applying to the designation and supervision of PIN projects
Decree-Law no. 174/2008, of 26 August, which approves the Regulations governing the System for the Designation and Supervision of Projects of Potential National Importance (PIN) and revokes Regulatory Decree no. 8/2005, of 17 August.
Decree-Law no. 157/2008, of 8 August, which establishes the framework for coordinating the administrative procedures governing public consultation and publication, as applicable to projects designated as having potential national importance (PIN).
Decree-Law no. 285/2007, of 17 August, which establishes the legal framework of Projects of Potential National Importance, classed as PIN +
Joint Ministerial Order no. 606/2005, of 22 August, which approves the application form to be lodged with the Committee for the Evaluation and Supervision of PIN Projects