The environmental association Quercus accused the Government of restructuring the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) "behind closed doors," expressing deep regret for the lack of transparency in the process. The environmental organization states it has been waiting for four months for a meeting with the Environment Minister to discuss these changes, without having obtained any response or invitation to participate in the reformulation process so far.
Quercus expressed concern about the way this restructuring is being conducted, without any public participation or consultation with sector organizations. The association considers that issues of such great importance for the country's environmental management should not be decided without the involvement of civil society and entities specialized in the area.
In the opposite direction, the Environment Minister guaranteed that the reform is "practically ready" to enter the legislative circuit, suggesting that the process is at an advanced stage and that the main decisions have already been made internally by the Executive. This position contrasts with Quercus's calls for greater openness and dialogue about the future of these two entities fundamental to Portuguese environmental policy.
