European Commission’s proposal maintains Community support for fisheries in the Azores
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology welcomed today the fact that, according to the EU Commission's proposal for the Community framework in the 2021-2027 period, "the Azores have, for the first time, a financial envelope of their own."
"In regard to the proposal submitted, the minimum amounts to be allocated by Member States to Outermost Regions (Outermost Regions) are set out in the rules on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund," said Gui Menezes. As he added, "this is one of the most relevant amendments to the application of European funds for fisheries, which benefits ORs."
Although the European Commission's proposal provides for a 5% cut in the fisheries sector compared to the current Community framework, "the Azores, like other ORs, will not be affected," stated the Regional Secretary.
Gui Menezes pointed out that, in the case of the Azores and Madeira, the amount reaches 102 million Euros, corresponding to the indicative value negotiated by Autonomous Regions at national level for the 2014-2020 period.
"ORs may allocate a maximum of 50% of this amount to fund the Compensation Plans, that is, 51 million Euros. This means that the financial envelop of POSEI-FISHERIES could grow," said the said the Regional Secretary.
"Currently, the financial envelope for the Compensation Plans, commonly known as POSEI-Fisheries, has an overall allocation of 45.2 million Euros: 30.7 million Euros for the Azores and 14.5 million Euros for Madeira," added the government official.
The Regional Secretary mentioned that the support under the Community-Based Local Development Measures will cover all sectors of the so-called "blue economy" and not just the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, as is the case in the current Community framework.
"The new EMFF proposal for the 2021-2027 period provides for simplification and increased flexibility to the extent that we can channel financial support to what we consider to be our priorities in the fisheries sector," said Gui Menezes.
"However, the proposal has various aspects which, in the Regional Government point of view, should be revised and improved. In this context, the Government has already established contacts with national and Community authorities for the preparation of forthcoming negotiations," said the Regional Secretary.