Brussels, 02/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to propose ways to strengthen European civil protection "by the end of the month" . This was announced by Commissioner Barnier on Monday evening as he presented his proposal to the European Parliament for granting EUR 31.6 million to Portugal from the Solidarity Fund in order to help it face the cost of fighting the forest fires that hit it so badly this summer (EUROPE of 28 August, p.5). The Commission will present the "state...