The President of the Government of the Azores said the visit of the President of the Government of the Canaries to the Region has created the political conditions to strengthen trade as well as maritime and air connectivity between the two archipelagos.
 
"Thus, this visit ends up being fruitful in terms of results and promising in terms of the prospects for future collaboration that are opening up both in the trade component and in the political component for the coordination of positions between both regions," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government of the Azores spoke after having signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the President of the Government of the Canaries under the visit of Fernando Clavijo Batlle to the Region, at his invitation.
 
As for commercial trade between both archipelagos, Vasco Cordeiro stated that there is a potential to be worked out, emphasising that we must be aware, however, that the establishment of these commercial relations is not just a matter of political willingness.
 
In this framework, the President of the Government added that several meetings will be held with social partners during this visit.
 
After the meeting that took place between both Governments, Vasco Cordeiro added that a commercial and business analysis will also have to be carried out in terms of air transport provided by SATA and Binder.
 
"These two companies should their operations from a commercial and business perspective. If these operations make sense from a commercial and business perspective, what we will do, from a political perspective, is to support this effort," said the government official.
 
After emphasising that both companies have already signed commercial agreements, the President of the Government stated that this work should reach another level, seizing the potential of SATA in this process - its ability to connect the Region to the United States and Canada.
 
Another aspect discussed in today's working meeting concerns the creation of the AIR Center. This platform, coordinated with other platforms in the Canaries, may contribute to a mutual reinforcement of the capacity for knowledge and research.
 
Speaking to journalists, Vasco Cordeiro also mentioned the political importance of this visit with regard to the strengthening of coordination for the defence of the interests of both region, either in Macaronesia or in the European Union.
 
In this context, the President of the Government stressed that this meeting has allowed us to send a very clear message to Member States themselves, pointing out the attention, work and awareness demonstrated by the Canary Islands and the Azores towards the major challenges that the European Union is facing in the future and which have a decisive relevance for Outermost Regions.
 
"We also urge our countries - Portugal and Spain - to take action within the European Union, always bearing in mind these challenges: the coming presentation of new Communication from the European Commission on Outermost Regions, the post-2020 scenario in the discussion of the EU new financial framework and the future of the Cohesion Policy," said the President of the Government.
 
 "On the part of the Regional Government, we look forward for this Communication from the EU Commission in order to take a closer look at the way the Junker Commission regards the important heritage of the Region, which has to do exactly with Outermost Regions," concluded Vasco Cordeiro.