ARAGON EU FUNDS COFINANCING 2021-2027

The project will co-finance investment schemes supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF) in Aragón within the Spanish Partnership Agreement 2021-2027.

The co-financed ERDF and ESF+ investments will contribute to the following four EU Cohesion policy objectives: (1) A smarter Europe; (2) A greener Europe; (3) A more social Europe; and (4) A Europe closer to citizens. More specifically: - ERDF will support investments in research, development and innovation activities, ICT networks and applications, small and medium sized enterprises, human capital development (especially education and training infrastructure and programmes), climate change mitigation (e.g., through energy efficiency investment in public buildings and renewable energy production), environmental sustainability (e.g. through soil remediation associated to the Sardas and Bailin landfills). - ESF+ will support investments in education and training, lifelong learning, skills development and access to employment and entrepreneurship, to increase the economy's stock of human and social capital and thus reduce shortages of skilled labour. - JTF will support investments in the province of Teruel, one of the Spanish territories most challenged by the transition towards a climate-neutral EU economy by 2050. The Project will enable its inhabitants to address the social, employment, economic and environmental impacts of the end of fossil-based activities

The promoter will be required to act in compliance with the relevant EU environmental legislation. The EIB's appraisal will focus on the promoter's environmental management capacity in applying the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU amended by the Directive 2014/52/EU, as relevant and transposed to the national legislation. In particular, the ERDF Operational Programme is subject to a SEA. Furthermore, some schemes thereunder may fall under Annex I or Annex II of the EIA Directive. The applicability of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU amended by the Directive 2014/52/EU, the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC will be reviewed at appraisal and during the allocation phase. Some schemes in the ERDF Operational Programme might concern the construction or upgrade of small water and wastewater treatment infrastructure or the construction or upgrade of water distribution infrastructure. The EIB will assess the promoter's compliance with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC and the Urban Waste Water Council Directive 91/271/EEC at appraisal and during the allocation phase. Some schemes in the ERDF Operational Programme might concern the new construction or refurbishment of buildings. The EIB will assess the promoter's compliance with the Energy performance of buildings directive (Directive EU/2018/844) at appraisal and during the allocation phase. Schemes under the ESF+ foster education, training, and lifelong learning, and hence support implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The EIB will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the Project will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directives 2014/23/EU / 2014/24/EU / 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/EEC or Directive 89/665/EEC] as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.