07/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission, at the request of the Portuguese Government, announced on Friday 7 December that it had given its approval to amend no fewer than eleven structural and investment fund programmes. Thus, 2.7 billion euros will be redirected towards new priorities defined by the Portuguese government to "pursue the implementation of structural reforms and ensure the sustainability of public finances", the Commission explains. The investment effort will focus more on innovation in SMEs, skills and training, employment and entrepreneurship support, urban mobility and social infrastructure, but also on the implementation of new major infrastructure projects such as the extension of the Lisbon and Porto metros. (PH)