The Regional Director for Community Agricultural Affairs regretted on Monday the lack of knowledge of MEP Maria do Céu Patrão Neves concerning the allocation of Community support to Azorean farmers, particularly with regard to the anticipated allocation of these support measures under the POSEI and PRORURAL programmes.

Upon being informed about a regulation proposal that makes possible the advance direct payments (July 2011) listed in the Annex I to the Council Regulation (EC) no.73/2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the CAP, the Regional Government has proposed to the Government of the Republic the dates for some advance payments under the POSEI programme.

With the publication of the aforementioned regulation on August 5, 2011 – which allows the advance payment of 50 percent of the premium – the Government of the Azores intends to make the advance payment of two of the main premiums of the POSEI programme for the dairy and meat sector, such as the Milk Producers Premium (advance payment scheduled for October 27) and the Suckling Cow Premium (advance payment scheduled for November 24).

Hence, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry anticipates the payment of premiums which would otherwise be paid between December and March 2012. With these advance payments, nine million and five hundred thousand Euros will be transferred to the milk sector and over three million Euros to the meat sector.

During the first half of October, Azorean producers will receive 75 percent of the support to the Maintenance of Agricultural Activity as well as of Agro-environmental Payments, corresponding to a total amount over 12 million Euros.