Brussels, 19/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - Portugal is expected to receive major support from the European solidarity fund after the very serious fires this summer. According to an initial Portuguese estimate, damage would amount to around EUR 800 million, which is over the 0.6% of its GNP mark, a Commission spokesperson told Agence Europe. This should open a right to aid under the main allocation heading of this solidarity fund against natural disasters, the spokesperson added. EUR 925 million is allocated for 2003. Lesser disasters, which do not exceed the 0.6% of GNP mark, can only receive annex funding, in which less than EUR 20 million are still available (EUROPE of 6 August, p.2). This first estimate of damage was made by Portugal on 13 August. The Commission has still to assess what share of this damage is effectively eligible for support from the solidarity fund, in the knowledge, moreover, that a further estimate should be made once the fires have finally come to an end.
Furthermore, on Monday, the European Commission received a letter from France, which requests support from this fund in order to meet the cost of fighting fires affecting the southern part of the country. Jean-Pierre Raffarin has announced that he will be in Brussels at the end of the month. The Portuguese and French dossiers should be on the agenda of the Commission's meeting on 27 August.