During the audience that he granted on Wednesday morning to the new Ambassador of the United States of America in Lisbon, Allan Katz, Carlos César took the opportunity to reiterate that the Azores believe in their capabilities and usefulness in the context of the international relations between Portugal and the United States of America. 

Stressing that the Azores and the United States do not have a “self-interested or an accounting relation,” the President of the Government added that various issues were addressed such as the possible improvement of tourist flow from the United States and the possibility of investment or exchange of knowledge on renewable energy as well as on the sustainable energy system in the archipelago.

The President of the Government provided a framework for the cooperation between Portugal and the United States, alluding to the renegotiation of the Lajes Labour Agreement which ended the salary survey system which is awaiting approval by the President of the Republic.

As he explained, if the agreement is approved and applied this year, we will choose the highest civil service salary of both countries regarding salary update. Thus, if the Portuguese system was chosen, the update will be zero percent; however as the American salary update was the chosen system, the update will be 1.5 percent.

“In its first year of application, this agreement demonstrates the success, being a good agreement for the workers at the Lajes Air Base,” stressed Carlos César.

The President of the Government also stated that the maintenance of this projection platform in the Azores is advantageous for the United States, adding that the “Lajes Air Base is an asset in the context of international relations.”