The Council of the Government has decided to authorise the opening of the public tender for the awarding of the improvement works of S. Miguel Slaughterhouse with a base price 3.5 million Euros and an implementation period of 12 months.

The decision was announced today by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs during the presentation of the press release from the Council of the Government, held Thursday under the Regional Government's statutory visit to Corvo.

"The improvement of S. Miguel Slaughterhouse includes the expansion of cold storage unit with the construction of four new refrigeration chambers. In addition to keeping up with the new demands of markets, this intervention is intended to meet the regulations on the matter and improve the hygiene and food safety standards," said Isabel Rodrigues.

This work falls within the Regional Government's policies to promote and revitalise the production of tradable goods in order to increase the Region's export capacity and reduce imports. It also intends to consolidate the implementation of infrastructures for the cutting and processing of carcasses, and preparation of meat products.

At the meeting, the Government decided to approve a proposal for a Regional Legislative Decree that aims to adapt the national and European provisions on the Energy Certification System of Buildings to the reality of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

It also determines the adaptation of the scheme regulating the access and exercise of the activities performed by qualified experts for energy certification as well as by installation and maintenance technicians of buildings and systems.

"In addition to proceeding with the definition of the regional administration bodies and services with powers on these matters, the proposal establishes a series of standards that are in line with the daily activities carried out by the main energy certification agents. It sets with the goals for the Azorean energy market and the regional legislation in force, namely with the legal framework on the protection and valuation of cultural movable and building heritage as well as with the legal scheme on territorial management tools."

With regard to sport, the Government stipulated the unit base value of support for training and competition activities in the training levels, supplementary support, classification awards, promotion and maintenance of teams, and the recruitment of athletes who did their training in the Azores. The measures also cover the number of elements that will make up the official delegations of each support, the competition levels and the maximum number of teams per league or competition level to be supported in the sports seasons 2015/2016 and 2016.

Moreover, the Government decided to approve a Resolution authorising the granting of financial support for the sports season 2015/2016 in the amount of two million Euros. They are address at entities participating in sports events with public or tourist interest that significantly contribute to the increased visibility and projection of the Azores destination.

In this context, the Government also decided to suspend the conclusion of the programme-contract with Santa Clara Futebol SAD for the promotion the 'Azores' word until the final resolution of the issues concerning the governing bodies of the public limited sports company.