Minister of Agriculture accuses PS Government of wasting 8.3 billion euros from the PRR

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, who in the European Parliament worked on the resilience recovery mechanism (PRR), confided this morning to young people at the European University, in a debate organized by the PSD, that he feels frustrated because the previous Government did not take advantage of more than 8 billion euros from the PRR that could be invested in a national plan for the efficient use of water.

“We missed an opportunity. We had 8.3 billion euros to invest, for example, in a national plan for the efficient storage and supply of water and we didn’t do it. And now we cannot go back”, said the Minister of Agriculture.

José Manuel Fernandes explained that Portugal could have asked for this money until August last year and did not want to do so, unlike Spain. “The previous socialist Government, as a result of its incompetence and negligence, did not move quickly towards the execution of all these funds that are crucial for Portugal”, accused José Manuel Fernandes.

But, for the former MEP, it is not only in the PRR that António Costa’s government did poorly, also in the implementation of the PT 2030 program, the rates are very low, almost close to zero. “Portugal 2030 currently has an execution in terms of payments close to zero”, revealed the Minister of Agriculture.

José Manuel Fernandes was challenged at the beginning of the session to talk about the farmers’ protests. The minister says he understands the protests because farmers are being disregarded and targeted by “green radicalism” that does not benefit the environment.

“They are often presented as if they were villains and enemies of the environment. They ask for environmental demands and we don’t give them the resources. There is a green radicalism that prevents climate objectives from being achieved”, said José Manuel Fernandes to the students at the European University.

The minister says that Europe needs moderation and that a reduction in production cannot be announced because this would increase the price of products and transport “would have a higher environmental footprint”.

“Therefore, when there is no logic in the positions, of course the farmers revolt later,” he said, concluding that it is necessary to provide farmers with adequate means for this transition.

Also this Saturday, the Minister of Environment and Energy argued that agriculture, like other sectors such as industry, must be able to have a smaller impact on the environment. In a debate with students from the European University, organized by the PSD, Maria da Graça Carvalho said that it is necessary to use new technologies to reduce emissions.