The Regional Government sent today to the Legislative Assembly a proposal for a resolution on the Azorean strategy for the preparation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework for the European Union after 2020. It is expected to be debated at next week's plenary session in the city of Horta.
 
Under the applicable rules of procedure, the Regional Government proposes that the Legislative Assembly should decide on the Azorean strategy and the perspectives of Community policies after 2020, which will be outlined by several Community bodies in coming months. The process will be concluded with the hearing and involvement of Azorean citizens.
 
The document emphasises the need for a negotiating position on the post-2020 Cohesion Policy "that does not undermine but rather reinforces what has already been achieved by and for these Regions: the so-called "acquis” of Outermost Regions.
 
With regard to the Azores, as an Outermost Region (OR), the document calls for a specific ERDF allocation, with a view to offsetting extra costs, maintaining specific derogations for ORs and reinforcing the eligibility of these regions under the European Territorial Cooperation. Moreover, it takes into consideration the need to ensure flexibility in adapting the Cohesion Policy to the territorial reality of Outermost regions and, in particular, of the Azores.
 
In regard to Outermost Regions, the document also emphasises their inclusion in the Trans-European Network also known as Motorways of the Sea, the implementation of the Connecting Europe Facility for the Macaronesian ORs and the access to the EU Solidarity Fund "with criteria adaptable to the reality of the regions"; the latter takes into account the catastrophe risk they face.
 
The draft resolution also defends that the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) "should maintain a strong and capable financial envelope" in order to support the development of agriculture as a pillar of economic and social development. It stresses the maintenance of the specific treatment for agriculture in ORs through POSEI and an increase of its financial envelope.
 
Furthermore, it also provides forcompliance with the principle of subsidiarity in all stages of the definition, implementation and management of POSEI programmes, in addition to maintaining the specific support for the fisheries sector in Outermost Regions.
 
This proposal follows the involvement and hearing of the Azorean society in the outlining of post-2020 policies for the Region, being an exercise of democratic citizenship that enriches and demonstrates the legitimacy of the Azores in the national and European context. The document points out the most relevant factors for the development of the Azores between 2017 and 2027 that are eligible for Community co-financing.