AMAL approves budget focused on mobility and management of European funds

A The Algarve's Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) has today approved a budget of €26,6 million for 2027, with priorities for mobility, management of European funds, digital transition, social action and climate change.

The Great Plan Options (GOP) and the budget, worth €26,622,565, were approved at an Inter-municipal Council meeting and will now be put to the vote in the Inter-municipal Assembly, according to a statement from AMAL.

In the area of mobility, AMAL, as Regional Transport Authority, “plans to decide the winner of the new public tender” for the inter-municipal passenger road transport service, called VAMUS Algarve 2026-2034.

According to the regional entity, the process aims to “continue the investment in decarbonization of the sector and improve the inter-municipal passenger transport service” in Faro district.

AMAL argues that it is the country's first inter-municipal community to move forward with this new competition, as happened in 2019.

The management of the European funds of the Algarve2030 programme will be another priority for next year, through the continuation of the PADRE2 programmes for investments in low-density territories.

In the priorities is also the ITI AMAL, which covers projects in the areas of waste, water, health, education, climate change, urban requalification and digital transformation.

In this context, the application of the project Intelligence in the Urban Water Cycle in the Algarve, recently approved, is pointed out as an example of intervention to promote a more efficient and sustainable management of water resources.

The digital transition will also continue between priority areas, with the aim of providing AMAL and the Algarve municipalities with information systems to support decision-making, reads in the note.

In the social area, the Social Development Plan of the Algarve (PDSalgarve) and the dynamism of the Supramunicipal Social Platform will be continued, which will allow to gather indicators to monitor the social situation of the region.

In environmental matters, AMAL intends to complete the Climate Action Plans of all municipalities and update the Intermunicipal Climate Change Adaptation Plan (IPAAC), which will also integrate the mitigation strand.

The preparation of municipalities for the post-2030 period, when European support is expected to be reduced, is another of the challenges identified by the regional entity, which considers it necessary to find new funding mechanisms and instruments to meet the needs of the region.

AMAL aggregates the 16 municipalities of the region: Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Faro, Lagoa, Lagos, Loulé, Monchique, Olhão, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Silves, Tavira, Vila do Bispo and Vila Real de Santo António.

As an entity representing the Algarvian municipalities as a whole, AMAL coordinates intermunicipal action in areas such as mobility, management of European funds, the environment and social cohesion, as well as exercising the functions of Regional Transport Authority.