The President of the Government highlighted today the availability and interest shown by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to analyse and enhance his knowledge on the reality of the Azores, particularly with regard to the fisheries sectors that is "facing a difficult moment."
 
"We had a very useful and productive meeting, especially since I noticed the Commissioner's willingness to listen, analyse and become better acquainted with the claims of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and its reality in matters pertaining to fisheries," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke in Ponta Delgada after welcoming Commissioner Karmenu Vella in the beginning of an official two-day visit to the Azores, following the invitation made by Vasco Cordeiro in early March. The event is included in a programme parallel to the organisation of the 6th Conference of the European Commission on Maritime Spatial Planning.
 
"The Fisheries sector is currently facing in the Azores a particularly challenging time. There are several matters under discussion; some of which concern the intervention of the European Commission," recalled. The President of the Government emphasised the availability of Karmenu Vella to work together with the Regional Government "in order to ensure the best solutions within the powers of each party involved."
 
Vasco Cordeiro also stressed the importance of the two-day visit made by Commissioner Vella, who is also accompanied by the Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, João Aguiar Machado. According to him, it provides observations "in loco" and a direct knowledge on Fisheries and on matters regarding the Environment and Maritime Affairs.
 
The audience held in Ponta Delgada was followed by the meeting of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), an interregional cooperation body chaired by Vasco Cordeiro, which discussed with Karmenu Vella the priorities of these regions regarding the European Maritime Policy.
 
Vasco Cordeiro was elected President of CPMR in September 2014. This interregional cooperation body is made up of 150 European regions and 28 Member-States, encompassing nearly 200 million European citizens.
 
Also today, the head of the European Commission meets with the Azorean representatives of the Fisheries, Sea and Environment sectors and, in the early afternoon, he will chair together with Vasco Cordeiro the international conference on "Maritime Spatial Planning Worldwide" at the University of the Azores.
 
On Friday, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will have the opportunity to visit LOTAÇOR, Vila Franca islet; the latter will be the venue of a presentation about the LIFE project "Safe Islands for Seabirds." In addition, he will visit COFACO factory and Rabo de Peixe Port.