The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs mentioned the performance of the Azores, as a Region, in the application of Community funds and the credibility achieved with European institutions since Community funds became available to regions. According to him, these are "fundamental principles that should to be taken into account and that should prevent "the Region from being in jeopardy in the next multiannual financial framework.
 
"The current context is different from the negotiations of the previous framework due to the Brexit process and the new Security Defence policy. Nonetheless, the Azores are now acknowledged in Europe as a good example of responsibility in the application of EU funds and this cannot be neglected," said Berto Messias. The government official spoke at the Legislative Assembly in Horta during a debate on this matter following an initiative of PS.
 
"The path we have followed over the course of 40 years of democratic autonomy as an outermost and island region, with the difficulties that this entails, should be taken into consideration in the definition of these funds."
 
The Regional Secretary recalled that the "Azores come to this negotiation process with the credibility of being a good example in the application of funds. This is evidenced by several statements issued by the highest EU officials and assessment reports, such as the last European Commission's report on the implementation of POSEI in the Azores. Moreover, the Azores are also an example of a Region that has promoted a broad debate in the Azorean society about this process, involving civil society as well as social and economic partners and political parties."
 
"This allows us to say that it is not just the Government's position that is at stake, but rather position of the Region as a whole. Hence, we should put aside differences so that we may consolidate this common united front to defend the interests of our Region," said Berto Messias.
 
The Regional Secretary also highlighted the fact that the proposal presented by the PS Parliamentary Group "does not limit this discussion to figures insofar as it also addresses the principles about what should Europe be, what should be enhanced, what outermost regions represent and what the concept of territorial cohesion should be in the European space."