The President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, was re-elected Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, an advisory body of EU institutions representing regional and local authorities of the European Union.
 
The re-election of Vasco Cordeiro, who was also elected a member of the Political Bureau, was held at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions. The event is taking place in Brussels and involves the participation of about 350 members.
 
The Autonomous Region of the Azores has been a member of the Committee of the Regions since its inception. It is currently represented by the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, and the Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rui Bettencourt, as alternate member.
 
Its primary goal is to issue reports on today's relevant political issues and prepare legislative proposals in areas related to the exercise of regional and local power in Europe, such as the case of economic and social cohesion, employment, vocational training, education and culture, health, social policies, environment, climate change, energy and transport.
 
Established in 1994, the European Committee of the Regions is considered to be the European Union's assembly of regional and local representatives. Its 350 members include presidents of regions and municipalities as well as elected representatives of regions and municipalities from all member states of the European Union.