The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry will represent the Government of the Azores at the Monitoring Council in charge of the Revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Capoulas Santos. It includes a panel of experts and a committee of representatives.
 
"The inclusion of the Regional Government in the Monitoring Council is very important for the assertion of agriculture in the economic and social development of the Azores," says João Ponte.
 
The Azores will have the opportunity to highlight the recognition of their specificities as outermost region and, thus, safeguard the interests of the Region, especially those of the agricultural sector and farmers in the future Common Agricultural Policy. 
 
The Monitoring Council aims to identify the main challenges and outline the national options for the future of post-2020 CAP.
 
Minister Capoulas Santos announced at the Committee on Agricultural Affairs of the National Assembly that the publication of the decree concerning this matter containing the names and entities to will join the Council is expected shortly.
 
This body, which includes the Autonomous Region of the Azores, is composed of an independent technical component that resorts to leading experts in the field as well as a dialogue component and ongoing consultation of the agricultural sector through their most representative organisations.
 
The Common Agricultural Policy is a cornerstone in the integration and consolidation process of European economic and social development.