The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations expressed in Brussels his satisfaction at the support received by the Outermost Regions from the political forces of the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development.
 
“Today, we received the support from the European Parliament's REGI Committee. This support is of utmost importance as it represents the broad support from all the political forces in the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development towards the Outermost Regions' position on opposing the cuts to the Financial Framework and acknowledging the value of these regions," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke to journalists at the end of a meeting of the Presidents of the Outermost Regions with the President of the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development, Younous Omarjee, in which he participated on behalf of the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro.
 
According to the Secretary of External Relations, we living in "unique and perhaps historic moments in the construction of the European Union as well as in the importance of Outermost Regions for the European Union. "
 
“What we are experiencing these days concerns the recognition of the Outermost Regions and with the recognition of the strategy that the Azores have put in place to ensure that the Azores and the other Outermost Regions duly are recognised and valued. Moreover, it concerns the preparation of this unique moment in the multiannual financial framework that has a strong impact on our lives as far as it represents more than a billion Euros for the Azores to be invested in our development and in our progress,” said the government official.
 
Rui Bettencourt highlighted and welcomed the fact that the Outermost Regions have followed, approved and supported the Azorean approach. As he stressed, "this Azorean approach, which has been internally agreed on, also involves an external component as the presidents of the Outermost Regions have recognised that this was a good and firm position based on consensus building."
 
“Everything that has happened here, also now in the European Parliament's REGI Committee, is in line with our position, acknowledges our value and gives us great strength for the ongoing negotiations that will continue until the final approval of the Financial Framework for 2021/2027," said the government official.
 
“Besides the Financial Framework, what is important is that Outermost Regions are being recognised on the basis of a strategy that the Azores have been putting forward for more than two years. It is primarily intended to acknowledge the value of these regions by adopting a firm position based on internal and external consensus building,” said the Regional Secretary.
 
During this meeting, the Presidents of the Outermost Regions presented to the President of the Committee on Regional Development a joint statement that was signed Monday. The document contains the main concerns and demands of Outermost Regions in the current European context, namely regarding the negotiations on the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework.