The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment restated today that the Government of Azores requires from the Portuguese State a fair allocation of funds to the Region. The government official spoke after the announcement of the sums granted under the extraordinary envelop that was decided by the EU Commission last week to support the dairy industry in the amount of 420 million Euros.

"Given the weight of the dairy sector in our Region and since we produce 30 percent of national milk and 50 percent of national cheese, the Regional Government will continue to insist that a fair percentage of support for the Azores will be, at least, 40-45% of the overall aid granted to Portugal," which corresponds to 4.8 million Euros, said Luís Neto Viveiros.

Speaking to journalists, the Regional Secretary stated that the decision of the EU Commission is "a fragile solution and does not solve at all these issues" within the Community space and markets. The government official stressed that the National Government has yet to contact the Azores Government; therefore, there is no news on what part of this aid will be allocated to the Azores."

Neto Viveiros restated that the global package of aid for the milk industry, announced by the EU Commission "has two disadvantages" ad its creation already comes late. "If the Commission had taken action earlier, we would not have the situation we currently have" in the Community space and "the amount is relative small for the entire European space."

Following the Community authorisation the Government of the Azores announced today the anticipation of the payment of direct aid to producers by 70 percent (20 percent more).
This measure will ensure the payment of this amount," said the Regional Secretary.

Luís Neto Viveiros recalled that the Azores have already move forward with it [this anticipation] over the last [five] years and the amount is usually 50 percent," adding that the Region "will carry out all the procedures to anticipate the payment" so that it can be made in the maximum percentage allowed now.

The Secretary for Agriculture also stressed that the Region will maintain the claim with Community institutions towards the increase of funding under the POSEI envelope, taking into consideration that this scheme was based on different assumptions and is not exclusively intended to support the milk industry.

"For different situations, we must have different solutions," defended Neto Viveiros.