Subject: Drought in Portugal
The drought in Portugal grew worse in April 2023: 89 % of the mainland was in drought, with 34 % suffering from severe and extreme drought, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere. April 2023 was the third-driest month since 1931; it has not rained since the turn of the year in some regions.
The drought is putting further pressure on already expensive factors of production. There is a lack of grazing land and winter grain production is low. Farmers are selling their livestock because they can no longer feed them. They are leaving the sector, which is increasing depopulation of the hinterland and raising the risk of wildfires.
In the light of some other Member States’ ambitious measures to mitigate droughts’ impact, can the Commission say:
1. How well-suited are the Portuguese Government’s measures for this serious state of affairs? Are they in line with the Commission’s policy requirements regarding people moving away from the area, leaving the sector and reducing the risk of wildfires?
2. Will recovery and resilience plan funds be deployed for the efficient management and use of water resources by, for example, boosting storage capacity?
3. What other steps does the Commission believe the Portuguese Government should take to combat drought?
Submitted: 2.6.2023
Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (13 July 2023)
The Commission acknowledges the severe drought situation in Portugal and its consequences for agriculture. In such situations Member States can use national financing in line with EU state aid rules, to help farmers in areas affected by adverse climatic events.
Moreover, the Commission is proposing for affected Member States to deploy under the CAP (1) funds the following measures: increased advance payments for direct payments and rural development interventions; flexibilities in the sectorial interventions; exceptional amendments of the CAP Plans to reinforce the budget to re-establish production potential in case of adverse climatic events.
Member States may also recognise force majeure in affected areas allowing farmers to continue receiving certain payments even if they can’t perform obligations due to the drought.
The Commission has indicated its intention to allocate the remaining funds in the agricultural reserve to Member States and sectors most in need.
The Commission understands that Portugal is reflecting on the most effective measures to be applied.
Additionally, Portugal has put in place a national drought management plan and regional water contingency plans in Alentejo and Algarve.
In these regions, Cohesion Policy will support an integrated territorial investment instrumen t (2) to enhance integrated water management.
In the recovery and resilience plan of Portugal (3) a component is dedicated to efficient water management by increasing the resilience of water resources in the Algarve, Madeira and Alentejo.
1 ∙ ⸱ Common Agricultural Policy.
2 ∙ ⸱ ITI Agua.
3 ∙ ⸱ https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/?lang=en
| | ) Furthermore, it is essential that Portugal continues to implement a medium and long-term strategy for the transition towards more climate resilient and environmentally friendly production systems.