Leopoldo Cólogan receives the command of number of the order of the merit Civil.

Leopoldo Cólogan Ponte has been honored for his extensive collaboration for more of 26 years with the Secretary of State in defense of the banana, Canary and community.

The Secretary of State Fernando Eguidazu Palacios has awarded the Encomienda of number of the order of the merit Civil to Leopoldo Cólogan Ponte by her extensive collaboration for more of 26 years with the Secretary of State in defense of the banana, Canary and community. The event was held at the headquarters of the Secretariat of State for the European Union in Madrid.

Leopoldo Cólogan relations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began from the integration of Spain into the EC in the year 1986. How will you be remembered, Canary negotiated in a very special way their integration, where was agriculture left out of the common agricultural policy.

This situation made unfeasible the establishment of a system of protection for agricultural productions of our region within the EU, Unlike the rest of Community production (Martinique and Guadeloupe for France and Madeira for Portugal) that it were already integrated in the CAP. This situation forced the Canarian agricultural export sector to act before public opinion to change the system.

Once accomplished the integration of the Canary Islands in the CAP in 1991, the ministries of agriculture and commerce were incorporated into this operation to work and achieve the common organisation of the banana, which entered into force in July of 1993. At that time, people like Pedro Solbes, Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner and Cleto Sánchez played a fundamental role.

To this Act, In addition to the Secretary of Estado Fernando Eguidazu, attended a broad representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs such as the Directors-General Alejandro Abellán and María Victoria Morera, as well as the Deputy Director Cleto Sánchez Vellisco. Also present was the Ambassador of Spain in Morocco Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner Rodriguez.

The representation of the Ministry of agriculture was headed by the general Secretary of food and agriculture, Carlos cabins, accompanied by persons who at the time worked for that agency.

By the Ministry of Commerce, was attended by the Secretary general Agustín Velilla, Carmen Tímermans and Fernando Ballestero.

The Government of the Canary Islands was represented by the viceconsejeros of agriculture and external action, Abel Morales and Pedro Rodriguez Zaragoza, respectively.

Part of the APEB was attended by a delegation of the Community producers, headed by its President Laurent de Meillac, accompanied by Mario Jardim, Gerad Bally and Santiago Rodriguez, President of ASPROCAN.

Also attending as representatives of the ASAJA agricultural organization their national and regional President, Cheap Pedro and Henry Sicily, respectively.

At last. the Act also were former Secretaries of State such as Alfredo Bonet and Josep Puxeu.