EU to release fire relief funds for Portugal

BRUSSELS Oct 9 (AFP) - (AFP) Oct 09, 2003
The European Parliament approved Thursday the release 48.5 million euros (57 million dollars) to help Portugal recover from a series of devastating forest fires which killed 20 people in the summer.

The fires, which swept through Portugal in July and mid-August, destroyed over 400,000 hectares of scrub and woodland.

Money will be released from the EU's "solidarity fund" which was set up last year after massive floods devasted parts of central Europe.

Funds can be released from this kitty for disaster relief costing more than three billion euros, or 0.6 percent of the gross national product of the country concerned.

The Portuguese authorities gave 100 million euros in August in aid to fire victims. But the government, which is struggling to bring its public deficit in line with EU rules, said it could not offer more financial assistance.

TERRA.WIRE