Brussels acknowledges limits of agricultural reserve but promises urgent support to Portugal

The 450 million euros from the European Commission's agricultural reserve are insufficient to cover all the damages caused by the floods in Portugal, according to Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. He visited the most affected areas on February 17. Despite this, he stated that the European Commission will act urgently to support Portugal. Hansen mentioned that the available 450 million euros will not increase, necessitating consideration of other instruments, as other European regions are also facing severe weather-related issues. One potential mechanism could be the European Social Fund, which allows for rapid disbursement of up to 25% of the amount. He assured that farmers will continue to receive subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), even if they cannot maintain the same level of production due to damages. Hansen confirmed that the government has already requested the activation of the EU agricultural reserve and that Brussels is reviewing the submitted data. He also mentioned being in contact with the European Investment Bank to develop a European agricultural reinsurance mechanism, emphasizing that many farmers cannot afford to lose everything every eight years without adequate protection. He described Portugal as 'the garden of Europe', noting that the country produces around 2.5 billion euros worth of fruits and berries, and highlighted that the destruction of crops threatens European food security. In a message posted in both English and Portuguese on social media, he stated: 'When one country in the Union suffers, we all suffer. We mourn and together we will rebuild.'