CAP measures played a major role in supporting the development of outermost regions
- Evaluation
- Evaluation
- Food Supply Chain
- Agricultural Production
- Rural Development
- Climate and Climate Change
The recently published evaluation support study examines the extent to which the POSEI and SAI support schemes enhanced agricultural productivity and diversification.
The EU's support schemes for agriculture in its outermost regions (POSEI) and smaller Aegean islands (SAI) are important initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural sustainability and economic development in these unique territories. As these regions face distinct challenges due to their geographical isolation, the EU has implemented tailored support schemes, which led to the implementation of support programmes by Member States in order to address their specific needs.
The study 'Evaluation support study of the EU support schemes for agriculture in the outermost regions (POSEI) and smaller Aegean islands (SAI)' has just been published and provides insights into the efficiency and coherence of these initiatives.
The POSEI scheme is part of the European Commission’s overall strategic approach for the outermost regions in the 2014-2020 programming period. It primarily targets the outermost regions of the EU, including islands in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans such as the French Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint-Martin, and Mayotte, the Portuguese Azores and Madeira, and the Spanish Canary Islands. These regions encounter limitations such as remoteness, small land areas and climatic constraints, which hamper agricultural productivity. Through POSEI, the EU provides financial assistance to compensate for the additional costs incurred in agricultural production and facilitates market access for local products. Similarly, the SAI support scheme extends assistance to the smaller Aegean islands, addressing their geographical challenges, such as aridity, limited arable land and fragmented markets. By offering financial aid, technical assistance and market support, the SAI aims to enhance agricultural competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
The study covers four Member States (France, Spain, Portugal and Greece), five programmes (Azores and Madeira have different programmes) and a huge number of islands with various contexts, so the main challenge has been to gather robust and homogeneous quantitative information. This is particularly the case for analysing costs linked to the implementation and the monitoring of this scheme by managing authorities and beneficiaries. However, the case-study approach of the method, with stakeholder interviews and in-depth analysis of the programmes, brings relevant qualitative information to the analysis, which enables to draw conclusions.
The evaluation study reveals that POSEI has played a crucial role in sustaining agricultural activity, preserving rural livelihoods and fostering economic resilience in these regions. Also, the evaluation indicates that SAI has contributed significantly to improving agricultural infrastructure, modernising farming practices and diversifying local economies, thus fostering socioeconomic stability in these island communities.
Beyond agricultural outcomes, the evaluation explores the broader socioeconomic impacts of the support schemes, including job creation, income generation and rural development. It analyses the efficiency of measures aimed at bolstering local economies and improving living standards in these regions.
Based on the evaluation findings, the study puts forward actionable recommendations for policymakers at both EU and national levels. These recommendations aim to strengthen the impact and sustainability of agricultural support schemes while ensuring alignment with broader EU policy objectives, such as CAP Strategic Plans, the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy.
Even though the POSEI/SAI schemes have been found to be efficient, cost reduction could be further improved with more digitalisation throughout the application and control of aid. The study recommended strengthening the consistency enforcement mechanisms between the POSEI/SAI programmes and the EU, as well as national and regional support, and seeking a global vision of the support. In particular, food security and resilience are key topics for the islands. The POSEI/SAI programmes have a role to play in this objective, but they need to better account for it to ensure this overall consistency
The findings of the evaluation support study are expected to inform future policy decisions and funding allocations, focusing on optimising the efficiency and impact of agricultural support measures in these regions.
The study's executive summary is available online at the Publication Office of the European Union.