Industrial Association Director Urges Mayors to Prioritize Creation of Setúbal Peninsula Intermunicipal Community
Nuno Maia Silva, the General Director of AISET – the Industrial Association of the Setúbal Peninsula, has issued a public appeal to the newly elected mayors of the region, urging them to commit to the formation of the Intermunicipal Community (CIM) for the territory. In an open letter, Maia Silva, also representing the industrial giant Secil, expressed his disappointment that the critical issue was largely ignored during the recent local election campaigns. The formal establishment of the CIM is seen by regional business leaders as essential for securing direct access to European Union development funds and ensuring the peninsula’s economic priorities are not overlooked by the central administration in Lisbon.
The policy initiative to create the CIM began over a year ago following the publication of necessary legislation by the national Government. This move was intended to grant the Setúbal Peninsula, a designated NUTS III statistical territory, greater autonomy in managing its own development. According to Maia Silva, while municipal councils initiated the required procedural steps, the process has stalled at varying stages across the different municipalities. He finds it “incomprehensible” that the CIM's statutes have not yet been universally approved, despite some local executives and assemblies having already voted in favor of joining the new associative public entity.
The strategic objective of the CIM is to provide the region with a unified institutional voice to define and implement its own development programs, particularly in relation to the post-2027 EU funding cycle. Maia Silva emphasized that without this political organization, the peninsula’s resources and projects would continue to be managed centrally from the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. This, he warns, would perpetuate the “usual neglect of the specificities and priorities” of the Setúbal territory, a region covering 1,625 square kilometers and home to a significant portion of Portugal's industrial base. For investors, the outcome of this political process is a key factor in long-term market insights and regional risk assessment.
The targeted outcome of this policy is to establish a robust regional governance structure capable of attracting and managing investment effectively. The AISET director called on the new municipal leaders to place the CIM's constitution at the top of their institutional agenda. The implementation strategy would involve finalizing the statutes and presenting a united front to the central government and EU institutions. This would ensure that the specific needs of the peninsula’s population and economic agents are directly addressed in the next Community Support Framework, which will take effect on January 1, 2028.
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The primary population group affected by this delay includes the residents and businesses across the nine municipalities of the peninsula, who risk missing out on targeted funding for infrastructure, innovation, and social cohesion. The budget allocation for NUTS II and NUTS III regions under the next EU framework is substantial, and direct control over these funds is considered a game-changer for regional development. Stakeholder consultation has been ongoing, but Maia Silva’s letter suggests a lack of political will to finalize the process, which has drawn criticism from the business community.
The expected economic impact of a fully functional CIM is significant, potentially leading to more efficient allocation of resources, greater investment in strategic sectors, and an overall increase in regional competitiveness. Conversely, failure to establish the CIM could result in continued economic dependency on the broader Lisbon metropolitan area and slower growth. A monitoring framework would be an intrinsic part of the CIM's function, evaluating the success of funded projects and adjusting strategies accordingly. This aligns with best practices seen in other autonomous European regions that have benefited from similar governance structures. Understanding these regulatory and legal frameworks is crucial for navigating the investment landscape.
Maia Silva concluded with a powerful statement, noting it would be “paradoxical and incomprehensible” if the region’s future development were hampered by the absence of its own institutional voice. The future policy developments and legislative agenda of the newly elected mayors will be closely watched by the region's industrial and economic stakeholders. The successful establishment of the CIM is positioned as a defining test of their commitment to the peninsula's long-term prosperity and autonomy. For those considering opportunities in the area, from large-scale industrial projects to real estate, these investment risks tied to political organization are paramount.
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