The President of the Government challenged today the European Commission to working together with coastal regions in order to enhance the potential of the "Juncker Plan" for the development of the European maritime economy, particularly in peripheral regions.

Vasco Cordeiro, who also chairs the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), spoke at the opening of the seminar “Blue.Invest - EU Support to Maritime Regions,” where he defended that the so-called "Juncker Plan '' can become an opportunity for coastal regions. However, it is necessary to ensure that no region is left behind" in seizing the opportunities brought by the EU Commission's plan designed to stimulate growth economic and job creation in the European Union.

In his speech, the President of the Government drew attention to the complexity of the mechanisms provided in this plan. Moreover, he mentioned the case of "peripheral regions where market issues, the distance from the major centres or other features may not captivate interest of private investors. These situations require some flexibility in the use of the remaining EU funds "in order to leverage the potential of maritime economy in all regions.

Vasco Cordeiro pointed out the example of the investment the Azores are making in the so-called "blue growth," which is embodied in the Strategy for the Smart Specialisation of the Azores for the period 2014/2020.

Fisheries and Maritime Affairs are the cornerstones of this strategy, Vasco Cordeiro said, stressing these axes cover several relevant areas for the development of the Azores, from fisheries, tourism, biotechnology, environmental sustainability, research, logistics, ports to the strengthening of the archipelago's role as an intercontinental and transatlantic platform between Europe and North America.

"We have 280 million Euros available for the development of maritime activities in the Azores between 2014 and 2020.These funds come from the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. They represent more than 20% of the total funds allocated to the Azores for the programming period" that will run until 2020, announced President of the Government.

In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro defended that Community institutions "can do more and should do more" in harnessing the potential of maritime economy for the growth and development of Europe's coastal regions, with a positive impact on the well-being of their populations.

Praising the various examples of CPMR member regions that have awarded priority status to "blue growth" in their smart specialisation strategies, Vasco Cordeiro defended that "only by acting together we can put the maritime economy at the service and for the benefit of the strategy for growth and job creation in Europe."

This seminar was organised by the European Commission and the Conference of Peripheral Regions and Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), an organisation chaired by Vasco Cordeiro since September 2014 that comprises 150 regions from 28 European states and 200 million citizens.