The Atlantic Outermost Regions of the European Union and the lusophony space enhance dialogue and cooperation of Europe in the South Atlantic in various fields.
The idea was defended by the Regional Under Secretary for European Affairs and External Cooperation, Rodrigo Oliveira, in Praia da Vitoria on Tuesday night during his speech at the launching of the book “Atlântico Sul – Um Tratado para a Paz ou uma Rota de Colisão Geopolítica” (South Atlantic – A Treaty for Peace or a Geopolitical Collision Route” by João Aranda e Silva.
“In the context of the European Union, the different geostrategic interests of the 27 Member States hamper the assertion of a common safety and defence policy with impact on the strategic relations with the South Atlantic,” stated the Under Secretary.
However, he added, “this diversity of influences and priorities also represents for the Southern States – particularly the Iberian States - an opportunity for asserting and contributing to the global role played by the European Union” in these matters.
Rodrigo Oliveira reminded that during the Portuguese and Spanish presidency in 2007 and 2010, respectively, several “European Union summits were organised with Brazil and Latin America, respectively, which reflects the desire of building a Europe that is also interested to dialogue with the South Atlantic.”
The Regional Under Secretary also stressed the importance of “the role played by the Lusophony in this space.”
For the Azores, he stressed, “the South Atlantic should be regarded as a space for dialogue and cooperation where outermost regions assume an important role.”
In this context,” said Rodrigo Oliveira,” the issues related to security and crime fight cannot be removed from the support to the development of North-South dialogue, in which Europe also has a key role to be developed.” 
The growing importance of the role of regions in Europe and their cooperation relations  - as tools of international diplomacy that are not constrained by the rules of International Law – “should be highlighted, such as the strategic position of the outermost regions in this context.
As the Regional Under Secretary stated, “the spaces for the regional integration of the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin decisively appeal to the union, dialogue and cooperation between the North and the South Atlantic, not to mention the historical and cultural relations between Portuguese outermost regions and various territories on both sides of the South Atlantic.”