The representatives of the farmers taking part in today’s protests in the Setúbal district left the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture with the promise of another meeting and that the government will find answers.
“There is a commitment from the minister to find some answers and to meet again next week. Until then, we’ll wait,” José Estêvão, one of the representatives of the region’s farmers, told journalists at the end.
José Estêvão was one of the participants in the videoconference meeting that representatives of farmers from the municipalities of Alcochete, Moita and Montijo had with the Minister of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes, which took place at Alcochete Town Hall, in the district of Setúbal.
When questioned by journalists, the farmers’ representative considered that the assurances of a new meeting and that the government will find answers is enough to suspend the protests, but stressed that the final decision rests with the farmers.
“As far as I’m concerned, but this is still to be discussed by everyone, [these assurances] are enough to suspend, not end, but suspend,” he said, adding that this “is a decision for all farmers”.
Since Thursday, Portuguese farmers have been demonstrating for the valorization of the sector and fair conditions, as has happened elsewhere in Europe.
The government has put forward an aid package of more than 400 million euros to mitigate the impact of the drought and strengthen the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC), ensuring that most of the measures will come into force this month, with the exception of those that are dependent on the green light from Brussels.
The European Commission will prepare a proposal to reduce administrative burdens on farmers, which will be debated by the 27 member states on February 26.
The Portuguese farmers’ protests are organized by the Farmers’ Civil Movement, which has joined the demonstrations taking place in other European countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Spain.
