“I am an optimist. I want to believe that we can perform miracles. I recall how in the last decade, it was possible to complete the Alqueva project more swiftly and seek funds intended for cohesion. At that time, we relied on the determination of the Government and the generosity of the European Commission, which allowed this reallocation of funds,” expressed Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, the president of CAP, in an interview marking the confederation’s 50th anniversary.
The CAP leader emphasized the Government’s claim that no money will be lost and hopes that all efforts will be made to ensure this, though he expressed some concern.
The PRR, which is set to be executed until 2026, aims to implement reforms and investments to boost economic growth.
This plan seeks to repair the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to support investments and generate employment.
The Government has submitted the last reprogramming of the PRR to Brussels, adding 111 million euros for the sector, along with over 50 million euros in financing lines, according to Agriculture and Maritime Minister José Manuel Fernandes.
While welcoming this measure, the CAP president noted that less than a year remains until the plan’s conclusion, necessitating a “wait and see” approach.
Regarding the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the CAP president stated that a country like Portugal cannot wait until the last day of negotiations to express disagreement and praised recent remarks by Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, who criticized Brussels’ proposal.
Conversely, he found the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s assurance unconvincing, that regardless of negotiation outcomes, funding will not be denied to Portuguese farmers.
The budget allocated to farmers is projected to be around 300 billion euros, including support for agro-environmental actions, small and young farmers, and farm investments.
From the total allocation, Brussels proposes that Portugal receive 7.4 billion euros.
A significant change in the new CAP is the dismantling of the second pillar (rural development), integrating it into the first pillar for direct payments.
According to an official source from the European Commission to Portuguese journalists, there will no longer be separate funds for the first and second pillars, but differentiation at the co-financing level.
In practice, support previously provided under the second pillar is now integrated into a single financing instrument.
Álvaro Mendonça e Moura argued that this proposal ends the single market, as it disrupts equality among farmers.
“It makes no sense. We need to invest in a budget that aligns with agricultural development,” he concluded.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, CAP is organizing a congress from Tuesday to Wednesday at the Pavilhão de Portugal in Lisbon, focusing on “The evolution of Portuguese agriculture and forestry since 1975, amid the country’s socio-economic and political changes.”
The event will gather members, partners, political leaders, entrepreneurs, and sector leaders to also project the future of national agriculture and forests.
