The Autonomous Region of the Azores will host the 30th Annual of the CPMR Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) to be held on May 20 and 21. 

Being integrated in the programme of the “European Region of the Year 2010,” the event takes place in Ponta Delgada, at the invitation of the President of the Government of the Azores, and will gather nearly fifty participants from European insular regions, EU institutions and bodies.

The opening session will be held on May 20 at 9:30 AM, being presided over by the President of the Government, Carlos César. Moreover, it will count upon the presence of the State Secretary for Energy and Innovation, Carlos Zorrinho, and the President of the Islands Commission and of Western Isles, Alex MacDonald.

Titled as “How can the islands take advantage new opportunities in the context of sustainable development?,” the Annual Assembly of the Islands Commission will celebrate 30 years of activity; the Azores were of one its founding members. This year’s event will focus on the following themes: renewable energies, transport, communications and tourism.

In addition to the Azores, the Assembly will be attended by representatives of Bornholm and Faeroe Islands (Denmark), Hiiumaa and Saaremaa (Estonia), Guadeloupe, Corsica (France), Sicily (Italy), Madeira (Portugal), Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands (Spain), Gotland (Sweden), Isle of Man, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles (United Kingdom); State representatives; EU institutions and several organisations related to the themes under discussion.

The works will take place at the Teatro Micaelense – Cultural and Congress Centre on May 20 and 21. The programme will include a technical visit to the Ribeira Grande geothermal on Thursday afternoon, which will be preceded by the presentation of the energy policy of the Government of the Azores, the Green Islands project and the MIT-Portugal Programme.