Strasbourg, 19/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the EP has expressed its solidarity with the Portuguese people following the drought that hit the country in October 2004-March 2005 (with 50% below average rainfall). The EP is calling on the Commission to take a variety of measures to support farmers, beginning with the earlier introduction of all payments classified as agricultural aid and the mobilisation of Community intervention cereal stocks. It is also calling on the Commission and Council to release the necessary resources and means for preventing an increased number of forest fires due to the drought, next summer.