In a report published on Thursday 15 December, the European Commission says that the overall performance of POSEI programmes over the 2006-2014 period “appears to be rather positive especially as regards their ability to address the particular agricultural challenges, linked to the specific geographical location of the OR” (outermost regions).
According to the Commission report on the implementation of the scheme of specific measures for agriculture in favour of the outermost regions of the Union (POSEI), these measures have reduced the difference in price of the supported products in the OR compared to the mainland. They have also enabled agricultural production to be ensured. “POSEI appears critical to maintaining the traditional and so-called ‘diversification productions’ in these regions, and to ensure a sufficient supply in agricultural products”, the report states.
POSEI is consistent with the new common agricultural policy (CAP) objectives but should not be replaced by the new 2013 CAP rules (direct payments), the Commission says. It argues that, without POSEI, the risk of abandonment of production could negatively affect employment, environmental issues and/or the territorial dimension of the outermost regions. It therefore recommends that the current basic regulation be maintained.
Increasing competitiveness. Amendment of the implementing regulation should be made in order to clarify and simplify the reporting of the programmes. Member states should adapt their programmes so as to further improve the effectiveness of the measures and to reinforce the complementarity with other CAP support to increase the competitiveness of local production.
POSEI is financed by the European agricultural guarantee fund (EAGF). Regulation 228/2013 sets an annual ceiling for each member country: French departments and overseas regions – around €278 million; Canary Islands - €268 million; Azores and Madeira - €106 million. An exceptional single additional sum of €40 million was allocated to the banana sector in 2013.
The Commission also adopted another report which concluded that the agricultural aid programme for the smaller Aegean islands should be maintained. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)