The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment highlighted today the proposed increase of the annual allocation to the premium for milk producers at 21 million Euros. The proposal was presented by the Government of the Azores under the revision process of POSEU, which was jointly carried out with all
agricultural associations as well as with the Azores Agricultural Federation.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that this is "one of several precautionary measures adopted by the Government of the Azores to face the end of the milk quota system," which is currently under negotiation with the European Commission in order to be implemented by next year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference that took place in context of the celebrations of the Day of the Agricultural Sciences Department at the University of the Azores, the Regional Secretary stressed that that the Government has "reinforced the financial allocation of the premium by nearly 2.7 million Euros, which represents an increase from 18 million to 21 million Euros. The premium is annually granted to milk producers" in accordance with milk deliveries to dairy factories. 

"Other actions have been taken over time," recalled Luís Neto Viveiros, particularly through the implementation of strategic options to foster the modernisation of farms or public investments in support infrastructures for Agriculture.

For this reason, the Regional Secretary considered that "one cannot say that the Government showed no concern with the end of the milk quota system in the European Union."

Luís Neto Viveiros also revealed that the Region will restate to the new European Commissioner for Agriculture the position that was unanimously taken by Outermost Regions (ORs) against the original intention of revising the POSEI and the defence of the specificities of the Azores.

"We were able to congregate the efforts of all these regions and we achieved success. Due to our efforts and persistence with commissioner Ciolos, the intention towards a very liberal revision of POSEI has been put aside," recalled the government official.

The Region has managed to include the positions of the Azores in the contribution provided to POSEI, which was submitted by ORs in late 2013. They were also expressed in a document sent by the Regional Government to the European Union.

At the conference he delivered today in Angra do Heroísmo, Luís Neto Viveiros recalled his time as a student at the Agricultural Sciences Department. In this context, he assured that the Government of the Azores relies "on the fundamental contribution provided by the University of the Azores: its researchers, professors and graduates."

"The 30 years of knowledge and applied research to the reality of the Azorean production sectors have provided the University with a know-how that should be disseminated beyond the university context," the government official stressed, adding that "this is the only way to overcome challenges."

Furthermore, the Regional Secretary highlighted "the importance of coordinating public policies related to Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, based on a thorough and responsible planning, in order to boost the Region's production sectors while respecting environmental values."