The President of the Government stated today that the two-day visit of the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to the Azores, which begins Thursday, is a "good opportunity" for the European Commission to have a direct knowledge of the challenges the fisheries sector faces.
 
"It is a good opportunity for the European Commission, represented by the Commissioner for Fisheries, to have an in-depth knowledge of what is our reality," said Vasco Cordeiro on Graciosa Island.
 
Commissioner Karmenu Vella begins Thursday an official two-day visit to the Azores, following the invitation made by the President of the Government in early March. It is included in a programme parallel to the organisation of the 6th Conference of the European Commission on Maritime Spatial Planning.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, this visit to the Region is an "opportunity not just for a more direct contact with the Government of the Azores but also for the establishment of contacts with social partners in this sector."
 
"We consider that the European Commission may become better acquainted with the challenges we face, the works we are carrying out and the care we have. Ultimately, it becomes important to meet the needs of a specific reality of an insular and outermost region such as the archipelago of the Azores," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
According to the President of the Government, this visit will address issues concerning the management of quotas that the European Commission has set and the way how it relates to the type of fishing techniques and vessels available in the Azores.
 
In the beginning of the visit, the President of the Government welcomes the European Commissioner in Ponta Delgada, followed by a meeting of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), an inter-regional cooperation body chaired by Vasco Cordeiro. Karmenu Vella will address the priorities of these regions with regard to the European Maritime Policy.
 
The European Commission official will also meet with representatives of the Fisheries, Maritime and Environmental sectors. In the early afternoon, he will chair, together with Vasco Cordeiro, the International Conference on "'Maritime Spatial Planning Worldwide."
 
On the following, June 24, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will have the opportunity to visit Lotaçor, the 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.