Agriculture Minister says he has a "hole" of 61 million to solve
The Minister of Agriculture said today that he has "a hole of 61 million euros" to resolve within the scope of the National Irrigation Plan, after the European Investment Bank (EIB) terminated its contract with the Government in 2023.
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Economia José Manuel Fernandes
"This is another issue that I have to solve, a 61 million euro hole where, most seriously, you made investments in projects, thinking that they would be financed", said José Manuel Fernandes, who spoke at the National Olive Oil Congress, which took place in Valpaços, addressing, among others, the mayors.
During the initiative, the mayor of Valpaços, António Medeiros, spoke about the dam for irrigation in the Padrela area, which has long been claimed in the municipality of the district of Vila Real.
"The mayor forces me to reveal something that I had no intention of revealing in this session, but which was another surprise to me. The mayor thinks he has a project approved by the EIB, within the scope of the National Irrigation Plan", said the minister.
In total, according to the minister, there are 61 million euros in projects under the National Irrigation Plan.
However, according to José Manuel Fernandes, "on February 21, 2023, the EIB notified the Government of the unilateral termination of the financing contract due to non-compliance by the Portuguese Government".
"And then, to my astonishment, in June 2023, for example, in a municipality very close by, sessions were held where they were talking about financing projects for the EIB when the EIB had cancelled the financing contract", he added.
And he continued: - "Now we will have to find a solution, but it is not easy to find a solution of 61 million euros and more serious than this was the deception that led to it and, after it was known that there was a termination here, the truth was not told to the municipal councils, namely".
And he proposed a guarantee: "- It is something that you can count on me for, I will always tell the truth, even if it may not be very pleasant".
The National Irrigation Program was announced by the PS Government and was financed by the EIB.
Organized by CEPAAL, in partnership with the Valpaços City Council, the National Olive Oil Congress was held within the scope of the National Olive Growing Fair, which runs from today until Sunday.
Read Also: Minister of Agriculture defends market diversification for olive oil (Portuguese version)
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