The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology and the Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, João Aguiar Machado, analysed today several matters under preparation and discussion at the European Commission that will have repercussions in the Azores in the near future, namely in the fisheries sector.
 
At the meeting, Gui Menezes highlighted the position and concerns of the Azorean Government regarding the new Multiannual Financial Framework for the fisheries and maritime policy sectors in the 2021-2027 period. The European Commission's proposal will be announced on June 12, the date when the future rules on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will be publicly announced.
 
At the end of the meeting, Gui Menezes welcomed "the willingness and commitment to assess some of the issues under analysis, taking into consideration the need to safeguard specific interests of the fisheries sector in the Region."
 
"This was a good opportunity to convey some of the Region's concerns to European institutions, reinforcing the need for Community policies to address the specificities of the Azores," stated the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary and the head of DG MARE of the European Commission analysed a number of ongoing negotiations on the management of fishing resources. They namely concern changes in fishing fleet management rules, the implementation of a Multiannual Programme for Western Waters and the implementation of the rules regulating the unloading and management of the red seabream quota.
 
Also in Brussels, Gui Meneses accompanied the visit of the European Commissioner for Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, and the Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to the exhibition organised by Azorean MEP Ricardo Serrão Santos under the title "Azores deeper than blue – unveiling the inner ocean."