Axis III
Protect the environment and promote resources efficiency
Note: The amounts shown refer only to Cohesion Fund
Priority Axis 3 has been allocated 1.045M€, which corresponds to 46% of the funds attributed to PO SEUR dedicated to the valorisation of waste, investments in the water sector, biodiversity and soils protection and rehabilitation, promotion of ecological services systems, namely through Natura 2000 network, green infrastructures and the adoption of measures to improve urban environment, revitalise cities, rehabilitate and decontaminate abandoned industrial areas, including reconversion areas, reduce air pollution and promote measures to reduce noise.
The importance of this significant financial allocation, as explained in the conclusions of PO SEUR ex-ante assessment is justified by the range, relevance and urgency of the interventions foreseen (as well as of the high costs associated to it) which are considered the way for a sustainable growth.
Distribution according to Goals

Investment Priorities
Investment Priority | Section SR | Specific Goals | Performance Indicators | 2023 Aim |
Investment in the waste sector to meet the requirements in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States |
Section 13 |
Valorisation of the waste by reducing the production and landfilling and increasing the selective collection and recycling |
Preparation for reuse and recycling of municipal waste in the total of recyclable municipal waste |
50 % |
Reduction of the total quantity of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled when compared to the waste produced in 1995 |
35 % |
Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States |
Section 16 |
Investments in water resources to improve the water masses quality |
National % of the water masses that went from "Low to Good" to “Good or Higher” |
70 % |
Section 14 |
Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle |
Improvement index in the AA Overall Indicator of Service Quality - AA - Downstream systems managing entities |
75 % |
Improvement index in the SAR Overall Indicator of Service Quality - SAR - Downstream systems managing entities |
69 % |
Improvement index in the AA Overall Indicator of Service Quality - AA - Upstream systems managing entities |
83 % |
Improvement index in the SAR Overall Indicator of Service Quality - SAR - Upstream systems managing entities |
80 % |
Protection and rehabilitation of biodiversity and soils and promotion of ecological services systems, namely through the Natura 2000 Network and green infrastructures |
Section 10 |
Preservation, management, planning and knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and geological resources |
Knowledge improvement on the conservation status and the species and habitats threats status |
70-75 % |
Adoption of measures to improve the urban environment, revitalize cities, rehabilitate and decontaminate abandoned industrial areas including reconversion areas, reduce air pollution and promote measures to reduce noise |
Section 15 |
Rehabilitation of environmental liabilities located in old industrial units, mitigating its effects on the environment |
Rehabilitation of priority industrial environmental liabilities |
50 % |
Rehabilitation of priority extractive industry/mining liabilities |
89 % |
Investment Priority
- Investment in the waste sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Valorisation of the waste by reducing the production and landfilling and increasing the selective collection and recycling
Performance Indicators
- Preparation for reuse and recycling of municipal waste in the total of recyclable municipal waste
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the waste sector to meet the requirements in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Valorisation of the waste by reducing the production and landfilling and increasing the selective collection and recycling
Performance Indicators
- Reduction of the total quantity of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled when compared to the waste produced in 1995
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section RE
Specific Goals
- Investments in water resources to improve the water masses quality
Performance Indicators
- National % of the water masses that went from "Low to Good" to “Good or Higher”
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle
Performance Indicators
- Improvement index in the AA Overall Indicator of Service Quality - AA - Downstream systems managing entities
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle
Performance Indicators
- Improvement index in the SAR Overall Indicator of Service Quality - SAR - Downstream systems managing entities
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle
Performance Indicators
- Improvement index in the AA Overall Indicator of Service Quality - AA - Upstream systems managing entities
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Investment in the water sector to meet the requirement in matters of environment and to meet the investment needs that exceed these requirements, identified by the Member States
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle
Performance Indicators
- Improvement index in the SAR Overall Indicator of Service Quality - SAR - Upstream systems managing entities
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Protection and rehabilitation of biodiversity and soils and promotion of ecological services systems, namely through the Natura 2000 Network and green infrastructures
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Preservation, management, planning and knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and geological resources
Performance Indicators
- Knowledge improvement on the conservation status and the species and habitats threats status
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Adoption of measures to improve the urban environment, revitalize cities, rehabilitate and decontaminate abandoned industrial areas including reconversion areas, reduce air pollution and promote measures to reduce noise
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Rehabilitation of environmental liabilities located in old industrial units, mitigating its effects on the environment
Performance Indicators
- Rehabilitation of priority industrial environmental liabilities
2023 Aim
|
Investment Priority
- Adoption of measures to improve the urban environment, revitalize cities, rehabilitate and decontaminate abandoned industrial areas including reconversion areas, reduce air pollution and promote measures to reduce noise
Section SR
Specific Goals
- Rehabilitation of environmental liabilities located in old industrial units, mitigating its effects on the environment
Performance Indicators
- Rehabilitation of priority extractive industry/mining liabilities
2023 Aim
|
Types of Eligible Operations
Valorisation of the waste by reducing the production and landfilling and increasing the selective collection and recycling |
- Actions to prevent the production and dangerousness of waste, including education and awareness actions;
- Increase of the quantity and quality of multimaterial recycling;
- Optimisation and reinforcement of multimaterial triage infrastructures;
- Reinforcement and optimisation of Mechanical Biological Treatment;
- Support systems and initiatives of selective collection of biodegradable municipal waste.
|
Valorisation of the waste by reducing the production and landfilling and increasing the selective collection and recycling |
- Actions to prevent the production and dangerousness of waste, including education and awareness actions;
- Increase of the quantity and quality of multimaterial recycling;
- Optimisation and reinforcement of multimaterial triage infrastructures;
- Reinforcement and optimisation of Mechanical Biological Treatment;
- Support systems and initiatives of selective collection of biodegradable municipal waste.
|
Investments in water resources to improve the water masses quality |
- Studies to define standards to establish ecological flows;
- Studies needed to improve and complement the water masses classification criteria;
- Actions to develop water resources management models.
|
Investments in water resources to improve the water masses quality |
- Studies to define standards to establish ecological flows;
- Studies needed to improve and complement the water masses classification criteria;
- Actions to develop water resources management models.
|
Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle) |
- Investments in the downstream systems to control and reduce losses in the water distribution and supply systems;
- Renovation of downstream water supply networks after a cost-benefit analysis;
- Closing of downstream AA systems to optimise the use of the installed capacity and the subscription to the service;
- Investments to improve the quality of the water supplied in problematic areas;
- Implementation of adequate systems of sludge management from Water Treatment Plants.
|
Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle) |
- Investments to reduce municipal pollution in water masses with special focus on the full compliance of the Urban Wastewater Directive 91/271/ EEC, 21-05-1991 (DARU);
- Rehabilitation and renovation of wastewater draining systems;
- Implementation of adequate systems of sludge management from Water Treatment Plants;
- Closing of downstream SAR systems to optimise the use of the installed capacity and the subscription to the service;
- Reuse of treated wastewater, implementation of tuning steps of the existing treatment.
|
Optimisation and efficient management of the existing resources and infrastructures, guaranteeing the quality and the sustainability of the systems within the scope of the urban water cycle |
- Investments to reduce municipal pollution in water masses with special focus on the full compliance of the Urban Wastewater Directive 91/271/ EEC, 21-05-1991 (DARU);
- Rehabilitation and renovation of wastewater draining systems;
- Implementation of adequate systems of sludge management from Water Treatment Plants;
- Closing of downstream SAR systems to optimise the use of the installed capacity and the subscription to the service;
- Reuse of treated wastewater, implementation of tuning steps of the existing treatment.
|
Otimização e gestão eficiente dos recursos e infraestruturas existentes, garantindo a qualidade e a sustentabilidade dos sistemas, no âmbito do ciclo urbano da água (SAR) |
- Investimentos com vista a redução da poluição urbana nas massas de água, com especial enfoque no integral cumprimento da Diretiva Águas Residuais Urbanas – Diretiva 91/271/CEE, de 21-05-1991 (DARU);
- Reabilitação e renovação dos sistemas de drenagem de águas residuais;
- Implementação de sistemas adequados de gestão de lamas de ETAR;
- Fecho de sistemas de SAR com vista à otimização da utilização da capacidade instalada e da adesão ao serviço;
- Reutilização de águas residuais tratadas, execução de etapas de afinamento do tratamento existente.
|
Preservation, management, planning and knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and geological resources |
- Actions intended for the rehabilitation and protection of species and habitats with the status of unfavourable conservation;
- Prevention, control and elimination of invasive alien species;
- Rehabilitation of ecosystems degraded by serious impacts;
- Actions of adaptation to climate changes foreseen in ENAAC biodiversity sector;
- Creation of Management Plans for Natura 2000 Network sites, including the marine environment;
- Support the execution of topographic and cartographic surveys;
- Support the acquisition of systems that allow an improved characterisation, knowledge and consultation of the national geological resources and mineral waters.
|
Preservation, management, planning and knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems and geological resources |
- Actions intended for the rehabilitation and protection of species and habitats with the status of unfavourable conservation;
- Prevention, control and elimination of invasive alien species;
- Rehabilitation of ecosystems degraded by serious impacts;
- Actions of adaptation to climate changes foreseen in ENAAC biodiversity sector;
- Creation of Management Plans for Natura 2000 Network sites, including the marine environment;
- Support the execution of topographic and cartographic surveys;
- Support the acquisition of systems that allow an improved characterisation, knowledge and consultation of the national geological resources and mineral waters.
|
Rehabilitation of environmental liabilities located in old industrial units, mitigating its effects on the environment |
- Support actions of rehabilitation and regeneration of contaminated locations and mining areas;
- Environmental rehabilitation projects of degraded areas allocated to the extraction industry.
|
Rehabilitation of environmental liabilities located in old industrial units, mitigating its effects on the environment |
- Support actions of rehabilitation and regeneration of contaminated locations and mining areas;
- Environmental rehabilitation projects of degraded areas allocated to the extraction industry.
|