Assembly of the Republic recommends 10.9 million reinforcement for firefighters and ANEPC

The Assembly of the Republic recommends that the Government increase the funding of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) by €10,900,000, intended to compensate for the additional costs incurred by humanitarian firefighter associations due to the update of the guaranteed minimum monthly remuneration. The recommendation is part of the Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic no. 276/2026, published in the Diário da República no. 206, dated October 23, 2026, and was approved on October 9, 2026.

The decree is signed by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and is adopted under paragraph 5 of Article 166 of the Constitution, which allows Parliament to recommend that the Executive adopt certain measures. The resolution contains four recommendations addressed to the Government and the ANEPC, all with a direct impact on the financing of humanitarian firefighter associations and local civil protection.

Compensation of costs since January 1, 2025

The first point of the resolution determines that the Executive increase the ANEPC funds by the amount of €10,900,000, with the explicit objective of compensating for the additional costs borne by humanitarian firefighter associations regarding the update of the guaranteed minimum monthly remuneration, with effects retroactive to January 1, 2025.

The increase is thus channeled through the national authority and not directly to the corporations, positioning the ANEPC as the entity responsible for the effective transfer of funds to the civil protection system.

Funds advanced in the fight against the 2025 fires

The second point recommends that the Government coordinate with the ANEPC to create the necessary conditions to, “in the shortest possible time,” settle the funds advanced by humanitarian firefighter associations in the fight against the 2025 fires.

The wording confirms that the corporations financed expenses that were the responsibility of the State using their own means, and are now awaiting reimbursement. The resolution does not set a concrete deadline or amount for this settlement, limiting itself to demanding speed.

New financing model and equipment survey

The last two points broaden the scope of the recommendation. Parliament requests the reformulation of the State’s financing model for humanitarian firefighter associations, as provided for in Law no. 94/2015, of August 13, to ensure “fair and timely” reimbursement for services provided on behalf of the State and to ensure the sustainability of these associations.

It further requests a survey of the equipment belonging to the volunteer fire departments, with the identification of existing deficiencies, and the consideration of a multi-annual investment program for the modernization of volunteer firefighters.

In summary, the resolution recommends that the Government:

• Increase ANEPC funding by €10,900,000 to compensate for the update to the guaranteed minimum monthly remuneration since January 1, 2025.
• Settle, as quickly as possible, the funds advanced by associations during the 2025 firefighting efforts.
• Reformulate the funding model provided for in Law No. 94/2015, of August 13.
• Conduct a survey of the equipment of volunteer fire departments and consider a multi-annual investment program.

The resolution was published on the same day that Parliament approved two other recommendations to the Government: Assembly of the Republic Resolution No. 277/2026, regarding an integrated strategy to combat arson within the scope of the Integrated Rural Fire Management System, and Assembly of the Republic Resolution No. 278/2026, relating to a strategy for justice heritage.

The relevance of the measure for humanitarian firefighter associations is direct: the increase of €10,900,000 and the settlement of funds advanced in 2025 impact the current operations of the corps, which ensure the local operational response, while the reformulation of the funding model and the equipment survey define the framework for sustainability and modernization of the system for the coming years.

Source: Diário da República, no. 206, of October 23, 2026, 1st series, Assembly of the Republic (official reference: Assembly of the Republic Resolution No. 276/2026).