A report from the EU's spending watchdog indicates that European funds intended for forest fire prevention have been misallocated and distributed hastily. Over the past twenty years, forest fires in EU countries have surged primarily due to the climate crisis, resulting in significant loss of life, property, and environmental damage. Although funding through the 650bn Covid recovery fund has increased, critics cite a lack of transparency and accountability, urging governments to refine their strategies to better target areas at risk of wildfires, particularly in Greece and Portugal where outdated data was used for planning.
According to the report, while EU spending on fire prevention has increased significantly, misallocation and rushed spending have undercut the effectiveness of these measures.
Auditors criticized Greek and Portuguese authorities for using outdated risk assessment tools, which hampered their ability to allocate funds effectively and combat the increasing forest fire threat.
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