Quercus criticizes Portuguese government over environmental agency restructuring

The environmental association Quercus has criticized the Portuguese government for a lack of transparency regarding the restructuring of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).

Quercus expressed apprehension over statements from the Minister of Environment and Energy, noting that the restructuring is nearly ready for the legislative process despite a lack of public consultation. The association highlighted that the government has not responded to an urgent request for a meeting sent in May.

A primary concern raised by Quercus is the proposed shift toward reducing the burden of prior procedures in favor of increased posterior inspection. The association warns that simplifying licensing processes could lead to more lenient or rushed approvals for large-scale projects, potentially favoring remediation over prevention. Furthermore, the restructuring appears to involve a redistribution of competencies that could result in the centralization of decision-making power within national structures.