19/06/2013. While speaking in Brussels, the State Secretary for Budgets and Expenditure said that the era of investments in large infrastructure paid for by European funds is over and that investments in the next budget period will be aimed at projects tied to competitiveness or natural resources in order to continue supporting those sectors that can create jobs and produce growth, in line with the priorities defined by the 2020 Strategy: R&D+i; SMEs; action on information and communication technology; and promotion of a low-carbon economy.