Carlos César says that the Azores as European Region of the Year 2010 is a distinction that honours the Azoreans
“It is a distinction that honours us, through which we intend to promote a better knowledge on the Azores in Europe and on the European ideal in our Region.”
With these words the President of the Regional Government expressed, on behalf of the Azores, the satisfaction with the launching of the activity programme in Brussels, following the appointment of the Azores as “European Region of the Year 2010.”
Carlos César presided over the closing session of the Seminar “Azores: Region of the Year 2010, an asset for Europe” (Açores: um trunfo para a Europa) - which brought together over one hundred participants, including Members of Parliament, senior officials and institutions, scholars, state representatives, regions, NGOs and other European entities – and pointed out that the archipelago as an outermost region is in disadvantage, thus facing increased difficulties in the process of economic and social inclusion in the European Union, which justifies the adoption of specific measures for the Outermost Regions.
Assuming that in a European Union made up by almost 500 million people there those who do not understand the reality of the Azores, the President of the Regional Government said that this is “a good time to reduce these shortages and these drawbacks” and defended that, despite the EU’s contribution to the development of the Region, sometimes the paths followed and the decisions taken have not been the best, whether for the European Union, whether for the interests of the Azores.
“I speak, for example, of the future deregulation of milk production, which will negatively affect the production in Europe and the sustainability of the traditional dairy sector in the Azores,” stated Carlos César.
For the President of the Government, the reduction of the protection zone of the Azorean sea from 200 to 100 miles, which has originated an increase in the fishing effort which endangers the sustainability of resources, is another problem that is jeopardising the future and the survival of many coastal populations in the Azores.
“I also speak of the integration of the aviation sector in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading, for which the difficult mobility and accessibility conditions of the outermost regions absence of alternatives to air traffic were not taken into account,” added the President of the Regional Government.
Defending the need to enhance the knowledge on the European outermost regions, to strengthen the role of regional authorities and to promote the agreement of positions, Carlos César also reminded that the Azores have provided their contribution for the discussion of important issues to the future of Europe on various occasions
The relation of the Azores with the sea, the strategic depth in the west, unique and essential to the EU and their contribution to biological diversity, sustainability and environmental preservation of Europe, prompted the president of the Regional Government to ensure that “the Azores are an asset for Europe.”
Durão Barroso praises the path followed by the Azores
During his speech, Carlos César reserved a special mention for the recorded message addressed by the President of the European Commission, Durão Barroso, at the seminar participants, describing it as magnificent.
In this message, Durão Barroso conveyed his satisfaction with which, on an individual basis and as President of the European Commission, he joined the launching of the Azores as European Region of the Year 2010, “a distinction that makes all the Azoreans and the Portuguese people proud.”
For Durão Barroso, “the path followed by the regional authorities to promote sustainable development is an example to be followed in different areas: environmental, land and sea preservation, use of renewable energies, with special emphasis for geothermal energy, maritime research and development of their traditional productions.”
Stating that even today the Azores are recognised by these valuable aspects, the President of the European Commission defended that “in an expanded Europe and a new political and institutional framework, this is certainly the time to strengthen and promote its strengths, the challenges facing the challenges as well as to the themes to be discussed in the European Union in forthcoming years.”