Jorge Carvalho, the Mayor of Funchal, has argued that municipalities need to increase their scale and critical mass to address the new challenges of European funding.
Carvalho warned of a shift in the European Union, from a "Europe of the Regions" to a "Europe of States," emphasizing that local authorities cannot remain passive observers. To counter this, he advocated for joint projects between municipalities, citing the Funchal Functional Territorial Instrument involving Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, and Santa Cruz, representing an investment of approximately 24 million euros.
The mayor also highlighted the importance of aggregating needs and creating scale through initiatives like those by AMRAM, which unite Madeira's municipalities in a global investment of around 16 million euros. Carvalho stressed the necessity for municipalities to have adequate human resources and logistical capacity, mentioning the establishment of a funds and project management department in Funchal to identify opportunities and support applications for regional, national, and European funds. Early preparation is considered essential to face the inevitable European evolution.
