The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stressed in Ponta Delgada that it is important for the Azores to have "one voice talking about Community policies" and to defend the multiannual financial framework for the 2021-2027 period.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the end of a hearing at the General Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly. According to him, the fact that there is an internal consensus on these matters provides the Azores with "arguments when talking to Community partners," whether at the European Parliament or at the European Commission, "to convey that we know where we want to go and to say that the Azores are with us."
 
The Regional Secretary considered that the initiative presented by the CDS/PP party to support the Final Declaration of the Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions, held in the Canaries last November, "is another demonstration of this internal awareness." On the occasion, he considered that this is very important as "it clearly differentiates the Azores from other regions."
 
With regard the Azores' dual concern about the reduction of amounts and the co-financing rate, Rui Bettencourt considered that "the Azores have a very strong partner in this matter, which is the European Parliament." The latter has taken a very clear position when mentioning to the Commission that the proposed cuts for the Cohesion Fund cannot be accepted because they will entail increased efforts from Outermost Regions.
 
The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations also ensured that the awareness efforts for the cuts in the Cohesion Fund amounts and the reduction of co-financing rates will carry on with the aim of influencing the European Commission to retract its proposal.