Quintero demands an update of the funding after nearly two decades without changes
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 19th Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty for the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, has emphasised that the POSEI budget allocation has remained the same for almost 20 years, stating that to uphold the same level of commitment, it should have been raised from the 286 million euros allocated in 2007 to 357.27 million euros in 2023 (calculated according to the CPI) or to 389.21 million euros (based on a 45% increase in costs).
He made these remarks on Tuesday during his presentation titled ‘The primary sector in the Canary Islands, what challenges does it face?’, which he delivered as part of the ‘Connect Europe’ conferences taking place within the regional Parliament.
“There is a direct connection between the primary sector and Europe. The primary sector accounts for 1.8% of the economy in the Canary Islands, and when we refer to the primary sector, including the agri-food or agro-industrial sector, its significance is considerable,” he stated.
Quintero also mentioned the outermost regions (ORP) of the EU and the necessity of updating the POSEI financial framework with an increase.
“Ultimately, POSEI serves as compensation for the additional costs incurred in the ORs due to our distance from the mainland and the fragmentation among these regions,” he clarified, recalling that Spain, France, and Portugal are the three member states of the Union that possess these territories.
REQUESTED MEASURES FROM THE EU
The minister outlined various measures that the Canary Islands have sought from the European Union, including the aforementioned update of the POSEI financial framework and modifications to the FEMPA-POSEI for fisheries.
Additionally, reviewing trade agreements with Mercosur, New Zealand, and Chile is among the demands from the Canary archipelago, alongside enhancing border controls and increasing flexibility within the CAP.
Another key demand from the islands is for the implementation of measures addressing drought and the repercussions of the Ukrainian war.
Furthermore, administrative simplification for imports, greater flexibility in Green Policies, and generational replacement are additional requests made by the CCAA.
INCREASING PRODUCTION COSTS AND DECLINING INCOMES
Quintero placed particular emphasis on the primary sector’s main challenges arising from its geographical isolation, which include soaring production costs, declining incomes for farmers, and the difficulties in sustaining adequate agricultural revenue against a backdrop of escalating living costs, particularly in rural and agricultural areas.
He noted that a study recently presented to Europe indicates that the primary sector in the Canary Islands has faced a 52% rise in additional costs over the past 17 years, with maintaining a livestock farm now costing 44% more than on the mainland.
The regional head in charge asserted that agricultural costs have surged by 44.5% since 2007, with events such as the War in Ukraine resulting in a staggering 90.6% hike in the prices of inorganic fertilisers between 2021 and 2022.
According to him, this context has led to the troubling reality that today’s profits for farmers and ranchers are lower than in previous years, as “they are earning less than they did,” underscoring the need to “ensuring the supply of agricultural products is vital.”
PAC: INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS
At this juncture, Quintero highlighted the influence of Brussels and the implications of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), quality controls, and environmental regulations, pointing out the inconsistency between sustainability and economic competitiveness.
Thus, he underscored the importance of fostering dialogue among farmers, authorities, and other key stakeholders in this regard.
He also expressed his alarm regarding the agreements with Mercosur and Morocco, which he believes have “unjustifiably” impacted Canarian producers due to the differing production systems.
Moreover, he deemed it crucial to establish mechanisms to address instances of unfair competition, in addition to ensuring compensation for Canarian artisanal fisheries, which he described as “sustainable” and environmentally friendly.