Portugal to get EU aid following drought situation

(EurActiv, 9 May 2023) Agriculture and Food Minister Maria do Céu Antunes signed the order recognising a drought situation in 40% of the country’s southern region on Friday, which will also activate measures to support farmers, she announced on Monday.

According to the minister, the order was signed on Friday after the ministry received data from the national meteorological institute, IPMA stating “that in the last two months there was no rain”, there were “three heat waves during April”, and there have been “average and maximum temperatures well above normal”.

“This allows us, with the European Commission, to say that we are in a drought situation,” said Maria do Céu Antunes in Fundão, where she attended the auction of the first Fundão Cherries 2023 and the presentation of the event to promote the fruit.

According to the minister, the technical data allowed the drought order’s signing, which makes it possible to “activate a set of measures within the scope of support to farmers”.

Maria do Céu Antunes detailed that this aid can either come from the single request of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan or from “another set of measures” for which Brussels’ authorisation is being requested, one of which is that fallow land can be used for grazing.

External link

EurActiv, 9 May 2023: Portugal to get EU aid following drought situation