SUBGREENS AND BENEFITS Add 8.2 billion

Last year alone, more than 8.2 billion euros were assigned in grants and other benefits provided by the most varied public bodies, according to data from the General Finance Inspection to which sunrise had access. This list includes thousands of support to public institutions, companies, associations and many other entities, such as the Portuguese Red Cross, whose amounts can reach millions of euros.

The Institute of Social Security was the entity that the most transferred in 2024, exceeding 2.4 billion euros. Most of this funds were intended for projects directed to social action, but it is also possible to find values ​​attributed under the Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PRR), the National Integrated Continuous Care Network or the Emergency Food Program.

Also the Environmental Fund appears in a prominent place by paying more than 1 billion, followed by IAPMEI, which attributed more than 700 thousand euros intended essentially to support small and medium enterprises, as well as for internationalization projects.

Regarding beneficiaries, the energy sector breaks records. The highest subsidy was paid to EDP Distribuição (current e-Redes) by the Environmental Fund in the amount of 623.1 million euros within the revenue of reducing the tariff deficit of the national electrical system-a value that represents the difference between the costs of production and distribution of electricity and the prices charged to consumers. In fact, the Portuguese electric was the champion of values ​​collected by receiving more than 934 million euros in 2024 in this matter.

The company led by José Ferrari Careto, along with the tariff deficit received even more than 311 million regarding the transfer of auction revenues related to European issuing licenses. The added must also have almost 74 million for the rate of appreciation + extensions (OVP) attributed by the Matosinhos Chamber, ie, rates associated with the occupation of the public road and the accomplishment of works. From Iapmei received more than 17 thousand euros under the PRR and almost 10,000 euros from the agency for development and cohesion for research and development projects.

Already EDP Comercial received close to 268 thousand euros, in which much of the slice was attributed by the Environmental Fund in the amount of 228 thousand euros related to financial support to users of electric vehicles, and the rest is the rest to innovation and development projects paid by IAPMEI.
In turn, EDP Innovation received over 49,000 euros from PRR and EDP Service Universal has received over 3.4 million from NE 300, a financing program for innovative low -carbon energy demonstration projects.

In all, the EDP group only benefited from 930 million euros only in subsidies and other public benefits last year.
Also in the sector we have to highlight the Madeira Electricity Company that received more than 30 thousand euros, the vast majority came from the Archipelago Regional Development Institute for the company to carry out a pilot project of energy storage with batteries in Porto Santo

Transport are target
In the transport area, only Carris received more than 137.8 million euros in grants, mostly destined for the creation of passes, namely the free. Verba that was largely delivered by Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa (100% detained by the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and responsible for the management of the public road transport service): 65.6 million with this objective.

Summing to these values ​​must also count on funds for energy efficiency in public transport and money that is given by the municipality of Lisbon for the transportation services provided, including the passengers paid tariffs. By way of example, the local authority led by Carlos Coins paid the company more than 25 million for the services provided.
But Carris was not the only transport companies to receive grants. Fertagus is another example. In 2024, it received almost nine million euros for the most part of the creation of municipal passes. The same scenario is repeated with Barreiro’s public transport. Already the Porto Transport Society of Porto (STCP) received almost 18 million for the management of the urban transport network and for projects of modernization and digitization of the fleet.

Interestingly TAP received more than 59,000 euros from the Madeira Autonomous Region Promotion Association – detained by the Funchal Regional and Industrial Association – to develop campaign and marketing actions for this region.

Mutual Guarantee Societies capture money
Only the Northern Mutual Guarantee Society -which operates in the Northern Region and in three districts of the Centro Zone: Aveiro, Guarda and Viseu -received more than 100 million. Also the Lisgaranto -But headquarters in Lisbon and commercial agencies in Lisbon, Setúbal, Algarve and Madeira -and Garval -headquartered in Santarém and commercial agencies in Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Castelo Branco and Azores -received almost 87 million and more 48 million, respectively.

In all three cases the funds are, largely, from the Mutual Contracting Fund – a fund that partially covers the risk of operations implemented by Mutual Guarantee Companies (SGM) leveraging their capacity to support SMEs and the Institute of Business Development.

In the background, these are indirect support for companies, channeled through mutual guarantee societies, in which the State uses these entities as financial vehicles to ensure compliance with credit line obligations.

Social support dominate
The Portuguese Red Cross is another entity that receives state grants. In 2024 it alone received almost 40 million euros, an amount attributed not only by the various national authorities but by the Institute for Social Security Management and not only. In fact, the highest amount was attributed by this last entity in the amount of 14 million euros, in which most concern the assignment of social support.

The amounts received were also destined for food distribution and integration programs, social inclusion projects and support for victims of violence. It is also highlighted the amounts intended for the labor market and undergoing financial support related to internships and financial compensations to companies to hire long -term unemployed.

Prominent football
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has received more than 37.5 million in subsidies and other public benefits, of which nearly 34 million comes from Portugal Tourism and concern the distribution of special online gaming tax funds. By way of example, the entity also received 55 thousand euros for the organization of the Portugal Futsal Cup (men and female) and also has funds for professional internships through IEFP and for travel and regular federated sports activities.

Alongside the Federation, it is necessary to count on the funds that are transferred from the most varied municipalities to local football clubs. By way of example, the Football Club of Ferreiras that received from the Albufeira chamber 1.1 million euros for the assignment of facilities for sports practice.

Among municipalities, the Regional Secretariat of Education, Science and Technology, Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, Tourism of Portugal and IEFP, football last year received more than 71 million euros. Admittedly, this amount is not only intended for local sports clubs, as it enters this cake the funds for the FPF, Portuguese Football League for clubs such as Sporting, Benfica and Porto.

State Bank also receives
Caixa Geral de Depósitos also received more than 34 million, of which 31 million euros from the Treasury Directorate-General and Finance regarding the interest bonus in international credits, ie support to countries of Portuguese cooperation.

There are also two million transferred from the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Lisbon to issue a comfort letter to ensure financing to the Portuguese Red Cross – Hospital Management Society. This letter serves as a guarantee of support, demonstrating the financial solidity and commitment of the entity with the Red Cross. Admittedly, this operation was also accompanied by other financial institutions, namely BCP, BPI and Santander Totta. The same happened with interest bonuses.

The bank led by Paulo Macedo also received from the Portuguese Institute for Business Development several bonuses from various lines of credit.

At the same time, Culturgest owned by the Public Bank received more than 144,000 euros, of which 120,000 from the Directorate-General of Arts to constitute a reference platform in the dynamization of Portuguese contemporary art by reinforcing the axis of national artistic decentralization.

Tourism dominates
Within the tourism sector there is an association that stands out on the list. It is the Lisbon Tourism Association that received more than 26 million in 2024. Of these, 10 million were delivered by the Lisbon Chamber for the organization and financial support under the Summit Web.
Alongside this event, the entity also received from Turismo de Portugal and the regional tourism entity of the Lisbon region several amounts intended for the promotion of Lisbon as a tourist destination and to support culture and congresses.

In a curiosity note, the municipality provided 300,000 euros to the association to financially support Pedro Cabrita Reis – 45 years of work.

Other data
The industrial sector also comes on this list. One of these cases is Navigator Pulp Setúbal, a subsidiary of The Navigator Company, which received more than 11 million from IAPMEI under PRR. This value must also add amounts attributed by IEFP for internships.
Also noteworthy is the association of school gardens João de Deus, which received, in 2024, more than 14.5 million euros. Much of this slice was delivered by the Social Security Institute for Social Action and Cooperation Agreements.

The ACP also received more than four million allocated to the organization of motorsport events such as the WRC Vodafone Rally of Portugal.

As for curious data there is a highlight for values ​​for popular marches where, for example, the Lisbon Chamber delivered 30 thousand euros to each entity. One case was that of the worker’s voice, but it adds many other Lisbon sports groups.