In a message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter), Luís Montenegro said he spoke by phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he thanked for "the EU's solidarity in fighting the fires in Portugal."

"We are making progress in defining funding channels to support the population and businesses now and ensure territorial cohesion with greater prevention in the future," the post reads.

The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion said that a law on future support and a 25-year forest plan will be approved at this meeting.

Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large rural fires since July, especially in the North and Central regions.

The fires have caused three deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some seriously, and have completely or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as farms, livestock, and forest areas.

Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss aircraft, with two more Canadair aircraft scheduled to arrive on Friday.

According to provisional official data, as of August 21, 234,000 hectares have burned in the country, more than 53,000 of which were in the Arganil fire alone.