The Minister of Rural Environment and Agricultural Policy of the Principality of Asturias, Marcelino Marcos Líndez, has stated this Wednesday that, as of today, 162,954,409 euros are "committed," which represents 54.42 percent of the 299.5 million euros allocated to Asturias within the budgetary cycle of the Strategic Plan for Common Agricultural Policy (Pepac), whose execution period concludes in 2029.
Marcos Líndez provided these figures during his speech in a commission of the General Junta of the Principality of Asturias, to which he was invited at the request of the PP to explain the status of the interventions planned in the Pepac 2023-2027.
"I guarantee that we will execute every cent that rightfully belongs to our countryside in a clean and intelligent manner," stated Marcos Líndez, who emphasized that he will continue to defend "resolutely" before the Ministry and Brussels the easing of bureaucratic burdens.
"The Pepac in Asturias is not a mere resistance subsidy; it is a project of food sovereignty, territorial cohesion, and dignity for our towns," the minister stressed.
In his appearance, Marcos Líndez also broke down the planning of the Pepac amounts by year: 7.35 million in financial allocation in 2025; 71.01 million in 2026; 82.9 million in 2027; 83.3 million in 2028; and 54.7 million in 2029.
Following the questions raised by the PP deputy Luis Venta, Marcos Líndez explained that there is a "legal dispute" between the Asturian government and the Ministry regarding 9.5 million euros. According to his statement, the Ministry proposes an additional distribution for the alleged non-compliance with the good execution mechanism, while the Principality maintains that these funds belong to it and considers its position justified. "Time will tell and will prove who is right," Marcos Líndez pointed out.
For his part, Luis Venta (PP) lashed out at the "terrible" management of the regional official, reproaching him for, if he does pay the aid, doing so by stretching the deadlines.
"When aid does not arrive and calls for applications are delayed, the government is not managing," criticized Cueli, insisting that the Asturian primary sector "cannot keep waiting."