The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated in Ponta Delgada the importance of the visits to the Azores that will be made by European Commissioner Phil Hogan in 2016 and by a delegation from the Commission for Agriculture in the second half of 2015 to allow a better understanding of the reality of the archipelago.

"Living the reality of the Azores in the Azores is completely different from analysing figures in a cold way," Luís Neto Viveiros stressed, mentioning that the European Commissioner for Rural has publicly accepted the Regional Government's invitation the Azores.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with MEP Sofia Ribeiro, where these visits discussed, Luís Neto Viveiros also stressed the analysis of the steps taken by the Government and MEPs to defend "the interests of the Region and of farmers."

"Hence, we will be increasingly stronger to successfully overcome the challenges" and the ongoing negotiations," said the government official. With the dismantling of milk quota system and the revision of POSEI at a Community level, the Government of the Azores wants to reinforce this key tool for the support local production in Outermost Regions.

According to Luís Neto Viveiros, "we also have some competitive advantages, especially in terms of milk production," which "is different from what happens in Europe and values our products." Nevertheless, the government official emphasised that the European Commission should become aware of the "constraints" faced by the Region.