Carneiro advocates strengthening prevention and dialogue with the European Mechanism

The Socialist Party's secretary-general today suggested that the government strengthen prevention measures, engage in dialogue with the European Civil Protection Mechanism to pre-position aerial resources, and activate more firefighting teams, in light of weather forecasts.

With forecasts pointing to very high temperatures and strong winds next week, José Luís Carneiro today made three suggestions to the Government regarding the risk of fires.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the presentation of António Domingues' re-election bid for the Ansião City Council, Leiria district, the Socialist leader argued that the Government should "ensure the strengthening of monitoring and prevention."

According to the former Minister of Internal Affairs, this reinforcement should be ensured "through the mobilization of patrols from the National Republican Guard and also by reinforcing patrols from the Armed Forces," also mobilizing the P-3, an aerial vehicle that allows for the coordination of aerial supervision with ground operations.

On the other hand, José Luís Carneiro considered that the Government should dialogue with the European Civil Protection Mechanism, in order to be able to preposition aerial resources.

In his view, the Government should not see this dialogue with the European Mechanism as "a sign of fragility," but rather as the use of "common resources that exist precisely to reinforce national resources when we need them."

Finally, the PS secretary-general also suggested “activating more teams from humanitarian firefighter associations, in conjunction with the Portuguese Firefighters League.”

"I am well aware of the difficulties the country is facing, particularly with the weather forecast for next week," he said, noting that he is making these suggestions based on his experience as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.