The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, welcomed the fact the European Commission will ensure the transition of POSEI and PRORURAL+ programmes between the current and the next Community framework as always defended by the Regional Government. The new framework will be in force for the 2021-2027 period under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
 
From the very first hour, the Regional Government has been working on the post-2020 CAP process, always advocating the need for a transitional period between Community frameworks in view of the expected delay in the approval of CAP 2021 - 2027.
 
With the regulation proposed by the European Commission providing for a transitional period, it will be possible to guarantee income support to farmers through POSEI and PRORURAL+ measures as well as to ensure the implementation of farm modernisation projects, among other measures.
 
“The European Commission has already made available a proposal for a regulation ensuring the transition between Community frameworks, which is quite positive; however, it contains an aspect with which we do not agree and consider unacceptable. I am referring to the fact that the budget allocation for POSEI in 2021 is in line with the budget proposal for CAP 2021-2027, corresponding to 3.9% reduction compared with the current figures," stated João Ponte.
 
The government official spoke in Ponta Delgada at the end of a meeting with the new Board of São Miguel Young Farmers' Association (AJAM). On the occasion, he stressed that, if this measure were implemented, it would represent three million Euros less for POSEI in the Azores in 2021, something unthinkable given the high budget pressure on this programme in the Region.
 
"Agricultural production has been increasing in the Azores, but the POSEI appropriations have always remained the same. This has resulted in apportionments, which are not higher because they have been offset with regional funds," said João Ponte.
 
“There is a political commitment on the part of the European Commissioner for Agriculture to cancel this 3.9% cut, maintaining the current POSEI allocation of about 70 million Euros. Furthermore, there are political consensus at the European Parliament and among many Member States to reverse this cut,” recalled João Ponte. According to him, it is important that during the transitional period, the distribution of POSEI funds among Azorean farmers be based on the current POSEI allocation.
 
The government official assured that the Regional Government will do everything within its reach with the National Government and European authorities to prevent the application of cuts on POSEI during the transition phase between Community frameworks.
 
Currently, the Regional Government is considering the proposal for regulation presented by the European Commission to subsequently call for the Region's concerns in the defence of Azorean agriculture and farmers.
 
In this meeting with the Board of São Miguel Young Farmers' Association, João Ponte assured that the Regional Government is always available to collaborate with all entities working towards the development of the agricultural sector, the generation of wealth and the creation of more jobs.
 
The Regional Secretary stated to the AJAM leaders that the Young Farmer programme will be approved soon, which will be drawn up in close coordination with all partners of the sector. Some of its measures are expected to come into force by early 2020.