During a working meeting in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, and the rapporteurs for the report on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, Domínguez addressed the needs of the Canarian agricultural sector and community policies for outermost regions (ORs).
The meeting resulted in a commitment to include an amendment in the financial measures document, which will be approved by the European Parliament's Budget Committee. This amendment emphasizes the importance of maintaining the Programme of Options Specifically for Remoteness and Insularity (POSEI), its non-centralized nature, and the need to increase its funding over the next financial period.
“"We were very concerned because a few months ago, POSEI, a fundamental instrument for the primary sector of our land, was disappearing in concept and economic allocation. Therefore, receiving today the good news of the inclusion of this amendment, defended by Canarian MEP Gabriel Mato and supported by all political groups, represents a first step and a recognition of the joint work carried out from the Canary Islands to guarantee the continuity of a vital program for our primary sector."
Domínguez highlighted that this amendment “recovers POSEI as a concept, with a name and surname,” ensuring that ORs continue to benefit from this specific fund. He thanked the Commissioner and rapporteurs for their understanding, as they recognized that outermost regions should not depend on states for managing these funds, thus preventing the risk of budget diversions.
The Vice President estimated an increase of approximately 300 million euros annually for the program. He affirmed that the Government of the Canary Islands will continue to firmly defend POSEI and other tools that guarantee the sustainability of the Canarian agricultural sector, which is crucial for food sovereignty and rural development in the archipelago.
This support from Brussels, according to Domínguez, demonstrates that “the voice of the Canary Islands is heard in Europe.” Furthermore, ties are expected to strengthen with the celebration in the archipelago of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), marking its 20th anniversary, reinforcing the Canary Islands' role as a strategic dialogue bridge between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
