The proposed PEPAC structure for Portugal was recently published by the Office of Planning, Policy and General Administration (GPP) of the Ministry of Agriculture. PEPAC is critical to the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) 2022-27 in Portugal, and its design and implementation will shape the future of national biodiversity.

According to 14 Portuguese environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the proposal of the PEPAC structure shows that “the intentions of the Portuguese state regarding the application of CAP 2022-27 funding have not changed significantly compared to the previous community structure. “that” it continues to pursue a real reform of the application of this policy in Portugal, capable of transforming the agricultural sector towards its environmental and social sustainability “and that this document” will not adequately contribute to the fulfillment of the objectives of the European Environmental Pact, in particular, on the 2030 Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, the Prado a Prato Strategy and the EU’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Goals.

Therefore, environmental organizations are demanding more transparency in the development of this policy instrument, demanding a more environmentally friendly PEPAC that increases the benefits this activity can bring to nature.

Signatory NGOs: A Rocha – Christian Association for the Study and Protection of the Environment; VILLAGE – Action, Freedom, Development, Education, Research, Environment; Almargem – Association for the Protection of the Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Algarve; ANP | WWF – Associação Natureza Portugal, in collaboration with WWF; ATNature – Association for Grazing Livestock and Nature; FAPAS – Portuguese Biodiversity Conservation Association; GEOTA – Spatial Planning and Environment Study Group; LPN – League for the Protection of Nature; Palombar – conservation of nature and rural heritage; QUERCUS – National Association for the Conservation of Nature; SPBotânica – Portuguese Society of Botany; SPEA – Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds; SPECO – Portuguese Environmental Society; and ZERO – Sustainable Ground Systems Association.

Subscribers also criticized the Portuguese PEPAC’s discussion and development process, stating that it “did not sufficiently involve these civil society organizations who have always contributed position papers and proposals, which they shared with the office responsible for its architecture, always making themselves. available for workshops and dialogues that have never happened ”(even with other interlocutors, for example, in the field of health, consumer rights and human rights), and therefore we consider the current proposal as“ not very transparent and not very inclusive ”.

In a joint position paper presented today to the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Climate, as well as parliamentary groups, NGOs highlight some aspects of Portugal’s architectural proposal that they believe require “in-depth analysis”.

Thus, 14 organizations protect:

1. CAP, which rewards those who do the best by compensating farmers according to the level of improvement in environmental and climate performance;
2. CAP, which produces organic food, ensuring that 30% of direct production aid contributes to environmental benefits and climate action;
3. CAP, which encourages biodiversity, creates more space for nature and supports ALL farms that promote GREAT biodiversity values ​​and landscape elements, especially in the Natura 2000 network;
4. A GAC that is responsive to the goals of the Paris Agreement and aligned with national climate change adaptation and mitigation policies;
5. CAP, which does not support new irrigation projects that threaten the conservation of agro-ecosystems and the well-being of our rivers and streams, and the people and biodiversity that depend on them.