Madeira receives initial finance to rebuild following fires
The European Commission has decided to grant the island of Madeira just under 400,000 euros from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF), as an advance payment following the Portuguese request for EUSF assistance after the forest fires of August 2016.
“The EU Solidarity Fund is one of our strongest expressions of solidarity in times of need”, said Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu shortly after news emerged of the first cash payment being approved.
In 2014, the Fund was reformed to increase its responsiveness and allow the EU to support affected countries faster.
“With the introduction of a 10 percent advance payment upon request, my message to the people of Madeira is that the EU is ready to help, so we can start rebuilding, together”, the Commissioner added in a statement.
The amount of this advance was calculated on the basis of the preliminary assessment of the application received from Portugal on 21 September, which found that the financial contribution from the EUSF for Madeira was likely to amount to €3.925 million.
In accordance with EUSF rules, the advance payment amounts to 10 percent of this sum. Once it has completed the assessment of the application, the Commission will propose a definitive amount of aid, to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council.
The fires during the second week of August resulted in three fatalities in the island region. It also destroyed, or partially destroyed 300 houses, leaving dozens homeless.
The total cost of the devastating blazes on the island region this summer amounts to an estimated 157 million euros.