On 2 June 2026, Council of Ministers Resolution No. 106/2026 was published, approving the PTRR — Portugal Transformation, Recovery and Resilience, a strategic plan to address the consequences of the storms that hit the country in early 2026, with a devastating impact on human lives, homes, infrastructure and economic activity.
The plan combines the response to the damage caused by the disaster with an agenda to strengthen national resilience, protect the population and essential systems, and reinforce the country's infrastructure and social and economic capacity, combining short-term measures with structural reforms and investments designed to produce consistent impacts over time and create solid foundations for future development.
The implementation period runs from 2026 to 2034 and is delivered through three complementary and interdependent pillars: Recover, Protect and Respond.
RECOVER PILLAR
This focuses on restoring the functionality of critical infrastructure and services affected by the storms, covering transport systems, road and rail networks, ports, as well as essential infrastructure in the education, health, defence, water supply, sanitation and waste management sectors, alongside support for households and businesses, to address the estimated €5.3 billion in losses.
The main measures include:
- Support for the restoration of homes, schools and public infrastructure.
- Moratoriums on mortgage repayments for owner-occupied homes.
- Simplified lay-offs and incentives to retain jobs.
- Support schemes for business reconstruction and liquidity (Banco Português de Fomento).
- Support scheme for reindustrialisation (non-repayable funding).
- Support for the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors.
- Restoration of roads, railways, the coastline and waterways.
PROTECT PILLAR
Adopts a preventive and structural approach, through 61 measures across eight areas, aimed at reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening the country's long-term resilience, with a resource allocation of around €15 billion.
The main areas of focus are:
- People: Creation of an integrated legal framework for disaster management — covering natural disasters, systemic failures and health emergencies — with provision for measures such as lockdowns, restrictions on rights, employment support and the protection of competition and essential supplies.
- Regions: Integration of territorial cohesion policies, revitalisation of low-density regions and tackling economic, social and environmental disparities.
- Businesses: Creation of business zones and technology parks with pre-approved licences and adequate infrastructure, to attract domestic and international investment and promote skilled employment.
- Energy: Strengthening security of supply, strategic reserves, modernisation of electricity and gas networks, energy storage and promotion of renewables.
- Communications: Focus on state cybersecurity, digital resilience, geographical redundancy of networks, emergency radio coverage and regulation of temporary national roaming between operators.
- Water: An integrated approach to water security, including the construction of new major dams (Girabolhos, Ocreza/Alvito, Alportel, Foupana) and the digitalisation of the water cycle.
- Forests: Transition to active, preventive and integrated management of forest areas, replacing a predominantly reactive approach.
- Infrastructure: Integration of scientific knowledge, technological innovation and planning tools, including the systematic mapping of critical infrastructure, regular monitoring, the use of advanced digital systems — including predictive models and digital twins — and data interoperability.
RESPOND PILLAR
Ensures a rapid and coordinated operational response in crisis situations, through 24 measures spread across three areas (Safety of people and infrastructure; Connectivity; and Emergency and Civil Protection System), with an estimated expenditure of around €2.3 billion.
The most significant measures are as follows:
- Compulsory insurance for disasters and earthquakes for homes and the creation of a Natural and Seismic Disasters Fund.
- National emergency accommodation system, with georeferenced assembly points and support for the population.
- Reform of the national Civil Protection system.
- Public alert system via Cell Broadcast, enabling the immediate sending of emergency messages to mobile devices by geographical area.
"Connected Parishes" programme, equipping all parish councils with redundant communications (SIRESP, satellite and Starlink).
The PTRR represents a fundamental structural transformation, with an investment of €22.6 billion and direct and cross-cutting effects on the legal, regulatory and economic framework affecting businesses, households and public bodies.
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