Brussels, 21/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Portugal may see the co-funding rate of the European structural funds rise from 85% to 95%, which would equate to an extra €600 million from the European kitty. The European Commissioner with responsibility for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, raised the issue at a press conference on the occasion of his visit to Portugal from 17 to 19 November. This “significant amount” may be available by the end of the year, the Commissioner is reported to have stated, adding that “it is up to Portugal to decide how it wishes to use this money”, as AFP reported. The parliamentary committee on regional policy has already expressed its support for this measure (EUROPE 10495), with the MEPs also to give their green light, along with the Council, in mid-December, otherwise this mechanism to raise the co-funding rate for countries in difficulty by 10% cannot be applied. Greece, Ireland, Romania, Lithuania and Hungary are the other candidate countries for an increase in the co-funding rate of their structural funds. (MD/transl.fl)