Speaking at a public session of the European Union (EU) Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers, José Manuel Fernandes stated that it is important for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) “to have a percentage for emergencies to, for example, allow the purchase of animal feed, which is not possible at the moment.”
The minister also mentioned the urgent need to strengthen the European Civil Protection Mechanism and for faster response to disasters.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, agreed with the need to accelerate the response and mobilize the agricultural reserve to support farmers affected by climate disasters.
Also today, through the social network X, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed “sincere solidarity with all those affected by the devastating forest fires in Portugal.”
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” she added, recalling that the European Union has activated the Civil Protection Mechanism to provide emergency support.
Seven people died and 177 were injured due to the fires that mainly affected the North and Central regions of the country and destroyed dozens of houses.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) counted five deaths, excluding from the count two civilians who died of sudden illness.
The burned area in mainland Portugal exceeds 124,000 hectares, according to the European Copernicus system, which shows that in the North and Central regions more than 116,000 hectares have burned, 93% of the burned area throughout the national territory.
The Government declared a state of calamity in all municipalities affected by the fires.
