Agriculture and Maritime Affairs Minister José Manuel Fernandes has asked the European Commission to activate the EU’s agricultural crisis reserve fund, citing damage estimated at €500 million in farming and a further €275 million in Portugal’s forestry sector following recent adverse weather events in Portugal.
According to a statement from the ministry, Fernandes sent a letter to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food requesting that the crisis reserve for agriculture be triggered.
The European mechanism is designed to provide a rapid response in the event of crises affecting agricultural production or distribution, with a total annual allocation of €450 million across the European Union.
The request was formally made in a letter sent on Thursday to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen.
“The request was made in light of preliminary estimates pointing to losses of around €500 million in the agricultural sector. Added to this are estimated damages of approximately €275 million in the forestry sector,” the statement said.
In the same letter, the minister warned that “the situation has not yet stabilised” and that weather forecasts for the coming days indicate the continuation of adverse conditions, with a high risk of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
The request is provided for under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 2021/2116 as a support measure for affected producers. It follows “contacts already undertaken” with the European Commission’s services responsible for agriculture and rural development, as well as with Commissioner Christophe Hansen.
Source: LUSA
Photo credit: Lusomorango
