THE EU COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE THROWED IT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CANARY ISLANDS.

The Commissioner for Agriculture of the European Union, Dacian Ciolos, has guaranteed the president of the Government of the Canary Islands and the rest of the representatives of the governments of the Outermost Regions, that the Community Executive will maintain the aid established in the Specific Options Program for Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI) and that this instrument, vital for the survival of the agricultural productions of the Archipelago, is not in discussion.

During the meeting, President Rivero conveyed to the commissioner the concern of the autonomous Executive regarding the damages that could arise from a review of the agricultural measures of the PSOEI for the primary sector of the Archipelago. “The commissioner has clarified to us that the instrument is not under discussion and that work will be done to improve the system to adapt it to new times in coordination with the outermost regions to favor local productions.”, said the president canary.

Canary Islands and the other EU overseas territories (RUP) they had one “great concern” on the possibility that the specific European aid program for local island production (POSEI) would be affected during the negotiation period of the community budget for 2014-2020.

In statements to the media, Rivero highlighted the “high importance” for the Canary Islands of these aids for banana production, tomato and other fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese, potato or wine.

The changes that will be introduced are intended “favor local productions”, Rivero said., who added that this adaptation process “will be carried out in conjunction with the outermost regions”.

Rivero announced that the next day 14 will meet with representatives of the different affected sectors, in addition to the opening of a public consultation that will last about three months with a view to “identify things that could be improved” of POSEI and “enhance” your support for local productions.

During this process, in which the effectiveness of POSEI will be analyzed, Canary Islands will defend character “traditional” of all products that can receive funds, both those mainly destined for export (like banana, the tomatoes, flowers and other plants) such as those for internal consumption (potato, wine, cheese, Fruits and vegetables), Rivero explained..

The objective of the Canary Islands is “seek a balance between the need to support our export agriculture with the promotion of local productions”, with a view to increasing the capacity of the islands to be self-sufficient.

Rivero recalled that the Canary Islands will receive some 2.000 million euros of agricultural POSEI during the period 2014-2020, which is approximately equivalent to 260 million per year.

In parallel, the region will receive during the same period other 2.300 million euros in aid from EU Structural Funds, what it means “significant improvement” of 500 million compared to the previous period (2007-2013) due to the inclusion of a “social axis” in these European funds, Rivero pointed out..