The Presidents of the Government of the Azores and the Canary Islands signed today a Memorandum of Understanding that identifies a series of areas where there is common interest and mutual willingness to strengthen political and strategic relations between both Regions.
 
The document was signed in the context of the visit of the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo Batlle, to the Azores at the invitation of the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro. It provides for the strengthening of coordination and the search for synergies in the preparation of the next programming period, namely with regard to the Cohesion Policy.
 
Both governments have identified the mutual interest in strengthening bilateral relations in areas such as Research, Development and Innovation, the creation of the Atlantic International Research Center - AIR Center, renewable energy sources, adaptation to climate change, EU Integrated Maritime Policy and Youth Mobility, among others.
 
Under the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, both governments have also decided to assess the necessary conditions and available possibilities for increased coordination in terms of transport systems in order to improve complementarity between the tourism sectors. They have also decided to promote the export of goods from the two Regions as well as the air and maritime routes between the archipelagos of Macaronesia and their connection to Africa, Europe and America.
 
The document also provides for the strengthening of cooperation in the context of participation in interregional cooperation bodies, particularly in the Conference of Presidents of Outermost Regions and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of the European Union, and in other international forums.
 
Moreover, it was agreed to hold a new meeting at the highest level between the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, scheduled for 2019.
 
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed after the meeting between both Governments, underlines the importance of this visit in the context of the historical and political relations between the archipelagos of the Canaries and the Azores and their location in the Atlantic area of Macaronesia.
 
Therefore, both Presidents consider that this meeting is a particularly important moment in strengthening cooperation between the Governments of both Regions and decisive stimulus to their political, institutional and economic relations.
 
The document restates the fundamental importance of the Outermost Region of the European Union statute for the economic, social and territorial development of the two regions, highlighting the role of the Canary Islands and the Azores as relevant and active players in the European and international context. It also stresses the importance of the principles of decentralisation and subsidiarity in the context of multilevel governance as well as the success of regional government models in the Atlantic archipelagos.
 
The document recognises the importance of greater political proximity and technical cooperation between the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde. In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro and Fernando Clavijo Batlle have reaffirmed their commitment to reactivate the work of the Summit of the Archipelagos of Macaronesia.
 
The Presidents of the Azores and the Canary Islands have invited the Government of the Republic of Cape Verde and the Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira to hold the 2nd Summit of the Archipelagos of Macaronesia, proposing its organisation in the Azores in 2018.