Leiria, Portugal, Sept. 8, 2026 (Lusa) - The president of the Intermunicipal Community (CIM) of the Leiria Region today described the maximum 60% support provided to local authorities through the Municipal Emergency Fund for damage caused by the storms at the start of the year as «manifestly insufficient».
«The [Municipal] Emergency Fund [FEM] is essential, although we recognise that the 60% contribution is clearly insufficient,» Jorge Vala told the Lusa news agency, arguing that this percentage will «continue to place a heavy strain on local authorities' finances».
Following a meeting of the CIM Inter-municipal Council in Leiria, attended by Paulo Fernandes, the coordinator of the Mission Structure for the Recovery of the Central Region set up in the wake of the bad weather, Jorge Vala indicated that there was «an expectation that parliament will put forward a proposal to increase, as has happened in other situations, the FEM to 85% or 100%'.» «That is our expectation,» declared the mayor of Porto de Mós.
On 31 July, the Official Gazette published an order allowing local authorities affected by the storm-related disaster to apply for support of up to 60 per cent of the proven damage, through the FEM, to restore damaged infrastructure.
The order allows applications for «funding for the repair, reconstruction and replacement of public infrastructure and equipment affected by the exceptional and severe weather events that occurred in the territories» covered by the declaration of a state of emergency.
This support is intended for the affected municipalities, parishes and inter-municipal bodies, and applicants may submit applications by 30 November to the Regional Coordination and Development Commission with territorial jurisdiction.
Jorge Vala acknowledged that a large proportion of the situations are eligible for support, «namely certain running costs, those that ensure the continued operation of services».
«However, anything relating to civil protection is currently outside the scope, and we have made very significant investments in the area of civil protection», continued the CIM president, noting that «a great deal of concern has been expressed – notably by the Mayor of Leiria – because the city has made very significant investments in waste removal, particularly of tree debris and green waste, with an investment already exceeding €9 million which, apparently, does not qualify for funding».
The mayor acknowledged having appealed to the Minister for the Environment, asking that the removal of waste and woody material be supported by the Environmental Fund or another instrument of that ministry.
Jorge Vala insisted that there is an expectation that «support for the remaining 60 per cent will be increased, given that having local authorities bear 40% of the cost is a very significant burden».
The Leiria Region Intermunicipal Community (CIM) comprises the municipalities of Alvaiázere, Ansião, Batalha, Castanheira de Pera, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Leiria, Marinha Grande, Pedrógão Grande, Pombal and Porto de Mós.
At least 19 people died in Portugal, six of them in the municipality of Leiria, between late January and early March following the passage of storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also left several hundred people injured, homeless and displaced. More than half of the deaths occurred during recovery operations.
The storms, which battered the mainland for around three weeks, particularly in the Centro, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions, caused the total or partial destruction of thousands of homes, businesses and facilities; the collapse of trees and structures; power, water and communications cuts; and flooding, resulting in losses exceeding €5 billion.
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Lusa
