NRP Portugal

TheworkofCOPhasbeencomplementedbyanextensiveanalysismadebytheOECDonthePortuguesebudgetingmodelwhichculminatedinareportonthismatter.1.5. Decrease of the risks associated with payments in commercialtransactionsThe Programme “Paying at the right Time”, approved by the Council of MinistersResolution nr.34/2008 of February 22nd, is aimed at a structural and significantreductionofdeadlinesforpayingsuppliersofgoodsandservicesprovidedbypublicentities,enablingtheimprovementofthebusinessenvironmentinPortugal,reducingfinancing and transaction costs, introducing greater transparency in the setting ofpricesandcreatingconditionsforhealthiercompetition.Anaveragepaymentperiodof30to40daysisestablishedasalongtermgoal;thisisconsideredtheoptimaltimegiventheregularnatureofrevenuefrompublicbodiesandaneedtoobtaingoodpriceconditionsfortheStateinitscommercialtransactions.In accordance with this Programme, the evolution of indicators of the averagepaymentdeadlinetosuppliersispublicised;incaseofservicesofdirectandindirectAdministration of the State, the goals set for its directors and managers will beassociatedtothisevolutionandthelevelofachievementdegreewillinfluencetheirperformance evaluation. For 2008, directors of services where the average paymentperiodis45dayshavebeensetthegoalsetofreducingthatfigurebyatleast15%.This publication seeks to increase visibility and transparency linked to paymentpracticesinthePublicAdministration.“Paying at the right time” foresees the implementation of improvements within thecircuitsoffinancialcontrolsoastospeeduppaymenttosuppliers,aswellasauditsonthe services of direct and indirect administrations of the State which register anaverage payment period indicator of over 180 days at the end of 2008 so as toevaluatethequalityofexpenditureandtreasurymanagement.Themunicipalitiesandautonomousregionswhichcompliedwiththedefinedeligibilitycriteria were able to apply for medium to long term financing in order to pay shorttime debts to suppliers. Thirty‐six eligible applications were accepted, totalling 335millionEuros,ofwhich134millionwerefinanceddirectlybytheState.Other legal mechanisms also contribute towards the objectives of the Programme,namelyLawnr.67‐B/2007ofDecember31st,whichestablishesthemandatoryannualpublicationofthelistofcreditorsoftheState’sCentralAdministrationand,inrelationto municipalities, municipal mechanisms for financial clearing and rebalancing,foreseenintheLocalFinanceLaw.CITIUSProgramme–injunctionsisatoolwhichenablesthetotallyelectronicdelivery,payment and processing of injunction procedures, available from the 5th of March2008.11