Portugal continues to receive support from the EU civil protection mechanism as a result of the forest fires burning in the country. Since 12 August, after Portugal requested EU aid for the second time this year, more than 160 firefighters, 27 vehicles and 4 fire-fighting aircraft have been sent into the country; they are still operating in affected areas with the support of Spain and are coordinated through the Commission's emergency response centre. To support the country following the deadly
- 17 August 2017
Portugal continues to receive support from the EU civil protection mechanism as a result of the forest fires burning in the country. Since 12 August, after Portugal requested EU aid for the second time this year, more than 160 firefighters, 27 vehicles and 4 fire-fighting aircraft have been sent into the country; they are still operating in affected areas with the support of Spain and are coordinated through the Commission's emergency response centre. To support the country following the deadly June fires that affected the central region, the Commission has today approved a change in the cohesion policy regional programme. Up to 45 million euros under the programme can now be used to deal with the consequences of the natural disaster and to help revitalise the regional economy. The Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu explained: “This reoriented funding will help life in the central region get back to normal and will allow the Portuguese to turn the page on this painful chapter. This shows that the EU is ready to increase its support when its citizens are most in need. I wanted to demonstrate our sincere solidarity with the Portuguese as the forest fires continue to devastate the country. I also wish to express our deep gratitude to those who, in Portugal and elsewhere in Europe, are fighting tirelessly against the flames." Of these 45 million euros, up to 25 million euros can now be used to restore the production capacity of small local businesses whose equipment and machines were destroyed in the fires. 20 million euros can also be invested in public services and the restoration of critical infrastructures: repair work on municipal roads, ensuring that water distribution systems can operate again, or replacing local transport vehicles. Following the fires, the Portuguese authorities asked that the cohesion policy programme be modified and the Commission made a commitment to deal with this request as quickly as possible. Today's decision does not change the overall budget of the programme.