Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, in a written answer on 29 June 2026, told the European Parliament that Portugal may reopen or extend deadlines for damage assessments following storm Kristin, and that the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) allows updates to applications after the standard 12-week deadline in justified cases. The answer responds to a question from Portuguese MEP Catarina Martins, who had raised concerns that damage-reporting procedures in Montemor-o-Velho required residents to report losses while land and homes were still flooded, potentially underestimating damage and disqualifying affected people from EU support. Fitto stressed that under cohesion and agricultural policies, damage assessment is a Member State responsibility under shared management. He noted that Portugal activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service on 26 January 2026 for on-demand mapping, which is still ongoing, and submitted an EUSF application on 13 April 2026 covering several storms from January and February. The EUSF Regulation permits national authorities to supplement their application after the deadline if justified, allowing for newly identified damages. The answer offers no new EU-level mechanism for reassessment but points to existing flexibility within national procedures and the EUSF framework. The Commission's stance signals a preference for Member State-led solutions, with EU instruments playing a supporting role. No immediate legislative or regulatory follow-up is expected from the Commission, but Portugal may now adjust its assessment criteria or extend reporting windows to address the concerns raised.
Source✉ Open answer ↗
Asked byCatarina MARTINS