The President of the Government stated that 2019 will be a particularly challenging and attractive year for Regional Autonomy, highlighting that the Azoreans should define the path to be followed by the Region in these matters.
 
"There is a series of matters, a series of aspects and - why not to say - a series of positions that will certainly make 2019 a particularly challenging and appealing year in this long-term struggle for our Autonomy and for the ability to decide, through our democratic institutions, what we want for our Region," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke Sunday at the New Year's Reception to the consular representatives and the civil, military and religious authorities of the Azores, an event that traditionally takes place at Santana Palace in Ponta Delgada on Epiphany Day.
 
On the New Year's toast, Vasco Cordeiro stated that these matters include the "powers that should be assigned to the Region over the Sea, which is ours."
 
"We believe that a legislative draft proposal submitted by the Regional Government in July 2018 will be under discussion at the Legislative Assembly in 2019 to regulate this matter," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In his speech, the President of the Government also pointed out matters regarding the teaching career as well as the powers and prerogatives of the Region in the field of aerospace industries, "namely the great potential of Santa Maria."
 
"The importance of these matters for our Region concerns what they represent in terms of our capacity to define in the Azores the path to be followed in various matters," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
 
After recalling that 2019 will also be the year of elections for the European Parliament and the National Assembly, the President of the Government stressed that this new year will pose "major challenges" in the most varied areas.
 
In this context, he pointed out the challenge of achieving a stronger economy in 2019 that is capable of generating more and better jobs as well as the emergence of ever stronger entrepreneurs.
 
At the New Year's reception, the President of the Government expressed his hope that regional public and private entities have the determination to face the challenges arising throughout this year.
 
"The determination and resilience of overcoming the difficulties and lucidity of perceiving the best way to contribute to the development of our land beyond the work and the contribution to defend our legitimate interests," concluded the President of the Government.