European Commission calls into question 900 of the 1,080 million for recovery

The European Commission (EC) sent to the Portuguese State a request for additional information about the value of 1,080 million euros earmarked for the recovery of the MADEIRA ISLAND  after the Storm of February 20. At stake are 900 million that the EC believes are not sufficiently justified in the dossier prepared by the Joint Committee, which brought together the governments of the Republic and the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

That news was one that said the press conference this afternoon, the europedeputados European People's Party, led by Social Democrat Nuno Teixeira, and today held a working visit to the main areas affected by the storm.

The spokesman of the delegation, the Madeiran Nuno Teixeira noted that at issue is the activation of the Solidarity Fund of the European Union, up to 31 million if the estimated value (1,080 million) is not fully justified by Portugal in response to calls, be as quick as possible.

"We have the information at this time, the European Commission has made requests for additional clarification to the Portuguese State for the request to activate the Solidarity Fund," he said. "As you know, there was a joint committee which made an assessment of damages resulting from the storm. This Commission set the total damages amounting to 1,080 million euros and we now have the information that the European Commission, the initial analysis that made all this process, considers that the total damage is around 900 million are not sufficiently justified and for which means you can not pronounce. It was for these damages, on June 11, a request was made to the State of information Portuguese and therefore here today to urge that in the shortest possible time Portugal respond to these requests, to provide the additional pieces of information that were requested, so that this process not be delayed further, "he concluded.

That is, at present, the 'ball' is on the side of the Government of the Republic, because the EC expects that response to be able to make an assessment and a proposal to Parliament that, by all indications, it will not hinder the approval of the report Members of the Budget Committee will present. Moreover, the rapporteur of the committee, Italian MEP Barbara Matera, and this visit was to have been secured with a clearer picture of the Damage from February 20 and will ensure that their work is quickly put to the vote.
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