Lisbon, Nov. 23, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP) expressed concern about the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), but said that he remains hopeful that it is possible to "do miracles."
"I am an optimist. I want to believe that we will be able to do miracles. I remember that, in the last decade, it was possible to complete the Alqueva project more quickly and to seek funds intended for cohesion. At the time, we counted on the determination of the government and the benevolence of the European Commission, which allowed this transfer of funds," said CAP President Álvaro Mendonça e Moura in an interview with Lusa, marking the confederation's 50th anniversary.
The CAP leader stressed that the government continues to say that no money will be lost and hopes that everything will be done to that end, although he does not hide some concern.
The RRP, which has an implementation period until 2026, aims to implement a series of reforms and investments to restore economic growth.
In addition to repairing the damage caused by Covid-19, this plan aims to support investment and generate employment.
The government has submitted the latest reprogramming of the RRP to Brussels, which, according to the minister of agriculture and maritime affairs, José Manuel Fernandes, includes an additional €111 million for the sector, plus more than €50 million in financing lines.
Although he welcomed this measure, the CAP president pointed out that there is less than a year to go before the end of the plan and that, therefore, it is necessary to "wait and see".
As for the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, Mendonça e Moura said that a country like Portugal cannot wait until the last day of negotiations to say it does not agree, and welcomed the recent statements by the foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, who said the Brussels proposal is flawed.
On the other hand, he considered the assurance given by the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, that, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, there would be no shortage of money for Portuguese farmers, to be unconvincing.
The budget dedicated to farmers will be around €300 billion, with income support including, for example, agri-environmental measures, aid for small and young farmers, and investments in farms.
Of the total allocation, Brussels proposes that Portugal receive €7.4 billion.
Among the main changes in the new CAP is the dismantling of the second pillar (rural development), which will now be integrated into the first pillar, dedicated to direct payments.
As an official from the European Commission explained to Portuguese journalists, there will no longer be a fund for the first and second pillars, but only a differentiation in co-financing.
In practice, the support that was provided under the second pillar will now be integrated into a single financing instrument.
Álvaro Mendonça e Moura considered that this proposal ends the single market, as farmers are no longer on an equal footing.
"It makes no sense. We have to commit to a budget that is compatible with the development of agriculture," he concluded.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the CAP is holding a conference on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pavilhão de Portugal in Lisbon on the theme "The evolution of Portuguese agriculture and forestry since 1975, in the context of the country's socio-economic and political change".
In addition to members and partners, the event will bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to also plan the future of national agriculture and forestry.
PE/ADB // ADB.
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