The government has announced that most of the measures of the support package for Portuguese farmers, announced this Wednesday and for which more than 400 million euros have been allocated, will come into force later this month.
On Wednesday, the government unveiled a relief package for farmers aimed at mitigating the impact of drought and strengthening the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC), which did not stop protests planned for this Thursday. countries.
According to information provided by Luse, most of the measures included in the support package will come into force this month, with the exception of those that depend on the green light from Brussels.
Production support worth 200 million euros, designed to cover recorded losses, will be approved at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 8.
However, payment will only begin after approval from the European Union.
A €50 million Treasury support line of credit, another measure announced by Agriculture Minister Maria do Seu Antunes, is available to all farmers “immediately.”
The calendar for the application of support shows that the reduction of the ISP tax on petroleum products to the minimum permitted level is written in a decree published on January 31 and which has already entered into force.
At stake is a price reduction from 4.7 cents per liter to 2.1, a drop of 55%, equivalent to 11 million euros per year.
Despite this, in a joint press conference with Finance Minister Fernando Medina, the agriculture portfolio holder stressed that this reduction will be implemented “at the latest” by Monday, the time required for gas stations to adapt.
On Wednesday the government also announced a €60 million boost to tier one (direct payments) of PEPAC to ensure applications for the Integrated Production and Organic Farming eco-schemes as well as “full payment” to farmers. who applied.
The strengthening will be approved by the next Council of Ministers, but payment will only be available after Brussels gives its approval.
Strengthening the second pillar (rural development) of PEPAC, also worth around €60 million, to ensure that applications for environmental and climate measures are paid by the end of the month, will happen “immediately”.
This Thursday, farmers took to the streets from the north to the south of the country, blocking roads with stopped or idling tractors to make CAP more flexible, increase the value of the sector, and fair working conditions and competition.
The protest was organized by the Civic Farmers Movement and joined demonstrations that took place in other European countries.