Government package to help companies with energy bills “not enough” says secretary of state

Portugal’s Secretary of State of Tourism, Trade and Services, Rita Marques appears to have broken ranks with the government by saying that a package of financial support to help companies pay their energy bills is a far cry from what is needed.

Rita Marques made her comments on the last day of a hotel and hospitality association congress which took place last week in Coimbra.
At the AHRESP Congress (Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal) in a speech that was quoted by the association’s newsletter, the Secretary of State said: “We are facing an upward spiral of prices of the order of 300%”.
“The €3Bn (offered by the government) aims to offset energy bills that our companies have to pay at 30 to 40% (higher). To cancel out (these increases on energy bills) totally we would need a package 10, 20, 30 times greater”.
“As high as the package of funds are, we need to prepare”, said Rita Marques referring to the package presented last week by the Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro.
In the same speech, Rita Marques thought the reinstatement of VAT on drinks at the intermediate tax rate was “positive for companies”. It is now down to business associations to present their suggestions” to the Ministry of Finances.
Duarte Cordeiro, Minister of the Environment, presented a package of €3Bn to companies aimed at reducing their electricity bills by 30% and gas bills by 40%.