The President of the Government of the Azores defended in Bilbao, Spain, the role that European regions should play in sea-related policies, noting that their "legacy of sustainability and responsibility" in the implementation of policies cannot be called into question by other levels of power.

"With regard to sea-related policies in areas such as planning and management of maritime territories, development of activities and the promotion of blue growth, regions are closer to this reality. In fact, they are best qualified to respond to the challenges and aspirations of their peoples and they also have an important legacy of sustainability and responsibility that should not be called into question by other levels of power," said Vasco Cordeiro. 

In his speech delivered at the opening session of the General Assembly of the Atlantic Arc Commission of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe, the President of the Government defended that regions "cannot be considered as mere recipients of European policies by European Commission or by States."

"They also take an active part in these policies, either in their definition or in their implementation," the President of the Government stressed, adding "the neglect of this fact will only undermine the work of each party and makes the achievement of common goals even more difficult."

Vasco Cordeiro recalled the importance of the Sea for regions such as the Azores, particularly the challenge concerning the sustainable use of its enormous potential, either in terms of marine resources and maritime transport or in terms of accessibility to coastal and island regions. In this context, the President of the Government pointed out the special importance of this year since it marks the beginning of the implementation of the new operational programmes.

"We must clearly demonstrate to European institutions that are not only committed to our lobbying and influence efforts in the context of the negotiation of major European policies. We are also capable of effectively implementing them in our territories and we know to seize all opportunities arising from the European tools at our disposal," the President of the Government said, defending the decisive role of the Atlantic Strategy in this context.

In this regard, the President of the Government stressed that "the progress in the negotiations between the USA and EU for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or the expected change in international logistical movements foresee that this Atlantic area will become the largest trade hub of the world, with increased levels of liberalisation and a higher degree of intensity."

For Vasco Cordeiro, it is necessary to "involve as many partners as possible so that we can strengthen synergies between our regions and Member States and develop concrete projects of common interest in the areas of transport, research, energy and fisheries."

 "The Juncker Plan may be an opportunity to implement some of these strategic projects, as long as it takes into consideration the role of our regions and enables their participation," stressed the President. In this context, the government official defended that regions should fight to make sure that the chosen projects "meet the European strategies in force, namely the EU 2020 Strategy but also the Atlantic and Blue Growth Strategies, and are in line with our regional options."

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro also considered that "the transport and accessibility issues remain critical for our regions, whose development is conditioned by their geographical features and their significant distance from major centres. Hence, the President of the Government defended that "we are not here to discuss transports and accessibility, but as levers in the reinforcement of social and territorial cohesion. Indeed, these are fundamental goals of the European Union."

The session, held at the Euskaldun Palace, the seat of the Autonomous Government of the Basque Government, also featured as guest speakers the President of the Basque Government, Iñigo Urkullu, the President of AAC and of the Government of Cantabria, Ignacio Diego Palacios and a members of the cabinet of the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Ioana Rus, who spoke on behalf of Corina Cretu.

The Atlantic Arc Commission brings together the Atlantic maritime regions of Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. It is one of the six geographical commissions of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR); the latter is an interregional cooperation body currently chaired by Vasco Cordeiro that currently comprises 150 regions from 28 European states, encompassing 200 million European citizens.