"Spain is a serious state that abides by the international agreements it signs," Virgínia Barcones said, in response to questions from journalists in the Spanish city of León, quoted by the EFE news agency.

Virgínia Barcones recalled that this matter is regulated by the Albufeira Convention, signed by Portugal and Spain 24 years ago, and that the country must fulfil the agreement.

On Monday, around 3,000 farmers from the provinces of León, Zamora and Salamanca demonstrated in the city centre of León to demand an end to the release of water to Portugal under the Albufeira agreement.

On Tuesday, the Portuguese Minister for the Environment and Climate Action said that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) holds “permanent meetings” with Spanish counterparts on drought within the scope of existing conventions between the two countries.

Difficult year

“Portugal is having a very difficult year, Spain is having a very difficult year. We are aware that both countries are being affected by the drought issue. There have been permanent meetings between the APA and Spanish counterparts regarding the monitoring of responsibilities under the existing conventions. We will always defend our country for the best use and respect for conventions”, said Duarte Cordeiro, during a hearing in parliament.

The minister said that “the existing difficulties on either side will be evaluated”, recalling that in the summer there was always “a very complicated situation regarding the Tagus”.

“We had the opportunity to draw Spain's attention to this, to reinforce the flows”, he added, noting that, from the point of view of the Albufeira Convention, there are daily, monthly and annual flows, and “short-term flows have been fulfilled”.