Canary Cabildo Parties Urge EU to Suspend Mercosur Deal, Adapt Rural Aid
Canary Islands' governing parties, CC and PP, are urging the Spanish government to push the EU for the suspension or conditioning of the Mercosur trade agreement and the adaptation of rural development programs to protect the islands' agriculture and fishing sectors.
The political parties Coalición Canaria (CC) and Partido Popular (PP), who form the governing group in the Cabildo (island council), are proposing that the Spanish government advocate for two main changes. First, they want the European Union's (EU) trade agreement with Mercosur to be suspended or to include conditions that protect the island's farming and fishing industries. Second, for the period 2028-2034, they suggest that the Leader program, which supports rural development, should be adapted to better suit the unique needs of rural areas in Europe's outermost regions.
CC spokesperson José Miguel Ruano and PP spokesperson Lope Afonso announced that they are urging the European Commission to create a special funding policy. This policy would help modernize farms and livestock businesses in the outermost regions, enabling them to compete fairly with products from Mercosur countries.
Furthermore, the PP and CC are requesting that local action groups for rural development be maintained. They want these groups to continue funding projects that improve the quality of life, develop public infrastructure, and provide services for all residents in rural areas.
This proposal is based on the belief that the current local development model is a "key tool" for bringing communities together. Local action groups include representatives from local governments, the fishing and aquaculture sector, as well as social, educational, and scientific organizations. This diverse mix helps ensure balanced decisions and projects that are truly rooted in the community.
They consider it essential to protect these rural and coastal action groups, seeing them as "fundamental" links between farmers, fishermen, and public administration. They argue that maintaining this model, which is currently at risk, is crucial for the survival of the island's agriculture and fishing industries.
The island government stated that Europe's "blue future" – referring to maritime development – is built from the local level. They believe that reducing this model within the Leader program would be a "mistake," as it would make managing maritime territories less effective, reduce local participation, and weaken the sense of community.
The political parties forming the Cabildo's governing group will seek the full council's approval today. They aim to request a strong commitment from the European Commission to maintain and strengthen the "Participatory Local Fisheries Development" program in the next financial framework, with both regulatory and budgetary guarantees. This is considered essential to ensure its continuity, especially in the outermost regions, where structural factors like remoteness, insularity, and fragmented territories require tailored and sustained support.
In other news, Tenerife's primary sector received a boost at this week's Governing Council meeting. Specifically, the flower and plant sub-sector will benefit from a direct grant of 200,000 euros allocated to the Association of Growers of the Canary Islands (Asocan). This organization, with 46 years of experience, represents 93 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals, 60 of whom are based in Tenerife. Following the pandemic, this sector has seen a continuous decline, posing a significant threat to many island families, mainly due to the highly perishable nature of the products and the closure of markets. This aid package will help growers purchase necessary supplies, boost sales through marketing and commercial strategies to enter new foreign markets, and foster research and development.
The Council also approved Tenerife's participation in Alimentaria, a major food and drink fair held in Barcelona. This will be the first time Tenerife attends independently, without being part of the wider Canary Islands government delegation. The fair attracts over 100,000 visitors and 3,000 business professionals from across the globe.
Finally, the Cabildo, through the Tenerife Rural Foundation and the Trawling Federation, signed an agreement to contribute 21,400 euros for promotional activities within the primary sector.