The Portuguese Parliament approved several legislative initiatives to bolster support for wildfire victims. The bill 171/XVII proposed by the PCP, with the final text from the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, was passed. This bill amends decree-law 98-A/2025 and enhances urgent support measures for wildfire victims. It received votes in favor from PCP, Chega, PS, Livre, BE, PAN, and JPP, while PSD, CDS-PP, and IL abstained.
Additionally, Parliament unanimously approved resolution 261/XVII from Livre, also processed through the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, advocating for emergency soil stabilization and financial measures post-wildfires.
The PAN’s resolutions 277/XVII and 278/XVII were passed as well. These focus on deploying Artificial Intelligence within the ‘Floresta 2050, Futuro + Verde’ plan for forest fire prevention and detection, and accelerating the update of the National Forest Inventory. All parties except PCP abstained from voting on these matters.
The final text of the PCP’s law reinforces support and mitigation measures addressing areas such as housing, health, access to welfare benefits, income loss compensation, and economic revitalization.
Social benefits will aim to compensate for partial or total income loss due to the fires, considering various social benefit types and specific supplements when other benefits are already awarded.
Victims with strong ties to locations where second homes were destroyed are entitled to reconstruction support, covering at least 50% of costs, up to 100,000 euros. Any remaining amount may be financed through a state-guaranteed loan with interest rates capped at 3%.
An exceptional aid is also granted to farmers for up to 15,000 euros to cover damage, regardless of documentation, following inspections by municipal and CCDR technicians. Eligible expenses must be at least 100 euros.
Support desks will operate at CCDR decentralized structures to assist victims applying for aid. The government commits to establishing these desks at the municipal level.
The Livre presentation urges the government to provide exceptional funding for emergency soil stabilization and ecological restoration in fire-stricken areas.
Parliament calls for the immediate initiation of ‘Resilient Territories’ program contracts to ensure quick resource deployment and public-private coordination in addressing fire-damaged areas, preserving public interest and natural heritage.
Furthermore, cooperative cross-border efforts should be encouraged, ensuring necessary financial and human resources are available to enhance resilience in border territories.
Systematic monitoring of burned areas for at least two years is advised, assessing post-fire interventions, sediment collection, vegetation regrowth, and soil property analysis.
The PAN resolutions recommend that the government enhance Artificial Intelligence resources for forest fire prevention within the ‘Floresta 2050’ framework and consider shortening the update interval for the National Forest Inventory, allowing for intermediate updates.
[This article was updated at 14:30]
