Portugal will ask for the reinforcement of the European Civil Protection Mechanism
The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, considers that the means of the European Fire Fighting Mechanism this summer were insufficient.
In statements to RenaissanceJosé Luís Carneiro added that he will, for that reason, ask for the reinforcement of the Mechanism and present other proposals to make it more effective.
The European proposals of the Inter Administration, in Carneiro, this Monday, where the ministers of Administration and evaluate the response.
Bearing in mind that the European Union reserve fleet was unable to respond to many of the requests that were made by several countries, including Portugal, Spain, and Greece Italy, José Luís Carneiro added that Portugal will ask for a reinforcement of human and technical resources. of the European Fire Aid Mechanism.
“In this case, you will have to assess how the European Union can strengthen material and human resources for a common civil protection device. The most important thing is that the European Union itself mobilize, as it did during the pandemic, for the joint purchase of various resources that can be adapted to the countries, but can reinforce the materials and human that will still be later when the States expand. members”, he argues.
In this sense, José Luís Carneiro admits that ours may have an aircraft base of the “RescEU” system – the European civil protection reserve – in southern Europe. It would be a way, says the minister, to have a better readiness of the means.
“Portugal is certainly available to contribute to this common European effort. It matters that there are certain countries, the non-region-specific means are concentrated in the center of Europe, which can be concentrated in us, which are specifically more in the region of the Europe region, which is, let’s say, more in the fire region of most of Europe. ”, he adds.
In these statements to RenaissanceJosé Luís Carneiro admits that if there are more European means, they would be able to make critical moments of combat to those lived in Portugal.
“Portugal had support, but it is clear that if we had more resources, because these resources would certainly be additional, because there were very critical moments and more air resources available, we would certainly have another capacity to cope with exceptional circumstances in which they are acceptable”, he admits.
Regarding the situation in Portugal, José Luís Carneiro recalled that the fire season has not yet ended. And in the face of news that will take for granted that the drought and hot weather will last until November, the minister guarantees the readiness of the means until necessary.
“The country has to have the capacity and we all have to have the weight capacity, although, of course, not anticipating scenarios. What we have to face is very difficult, it is very demanding. And we count on the cooperation of all forces as civil forces and services and, naturally, that the means of protection can maintain this protection power, for sure, for sure that they will not be haggled and will be offered”, he concludes.