The statement from the Council of Ministers states that a decree was approved establishing the agreement between Portugal and Greece on assistance and cooperation in the field of civil protection.

This document results “from the awareness and concern that both countries share about the danger posed by natural and technological disasters and from the recognition that cooperation in this matter, including in the area of emergency prevention and management, is fundamental for the protection and security of people and material goods”.

In a response sent to Lusa, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) states that this is an agreement signed on January 10, 2023 by Minister José Luís Carneiro and the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece, Christos Stylianides.

“Portugal and Greece have common problems regarding forest fires, floods and seismic risk, justifying the cooperation agreement in the area of civil protection, which will allow the exchange of technical experiences and joint participation in large-scale exercises, and since 2018 , negotiations for this bilateral cooperation agreement began”, says the MAI.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the urgency in concluding this agreement had become evident during the fires that occurred in Greece in July 2018, with Portugal sending five dozen elements of the Special Firefighters Force (FEB).

MAI indicates that the provision of mutual assistance in the event of a serious accident or catastrophe, exchange of technical experiences, training of specialists in civil protection, joint participation in large-scale exercises, exchange of information and experts are some of the areas covered by the protocol.