The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations announced in Brussels the beginning of a consultation process with social partners to better defend the interests of the Azores and the Outermost Regions in the preparation of a new European territorial cooperation programme
 
"There is a proposal from the European Commission for the allocation of 270 million Euros for the Outermost Regions," said Rui Bettencourt. He spoke after a meeting with a group of Azorean farmers who are visiting the Belgian capital, stressing that "this is the first time that such an amount is proposed in a specific programme for Outermost Regions."
 
At the meeting, held at the premises of the Azores Representation Office in Brussels, Rui Bettencourt told the representatives of the Azorean Agricultural Federation and farmers that the Government intends "to propose the structuring of this European cooperation programme for Outermost Regions by hearing social partners."
 
The Secretary for External Relations also mentioned that there are plans to schedule a first meeting in the Region with the Azores Agricultural Federation, the Azores Fisheries Federation and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores in order to start preparing the Azorean position on the Commission's proposal.
 
"The joint position to be taken by the Azores regarding the cooperation programme between Outermost Regions in 2021-2027 with this allocation of 270 million Euros will be under discussion at the meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions to be held in the Azores in June," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
For the government official, this will be "an important moment" and "an important contribution that the Azores will provide to Outermost Regions as a whole," so that these regions can make a proposal to the European Commission for the structuring and implementation of these funds amounting to 270 million Euros. As he stressed, "this is important inasmuch as we have never had a cooperation programme for Outermost Regions with this allocation".
 
The Regional Secretary expressed his satisfaction with the "very good collaboration" that the Regional Government maintains with the Azorean Agricultural Federation and regional farmers "to fully cooperate in the defence of Azorean interests and in the preparation of the Financial Framework for 2021-2027, with special emphasis on the Common Agricultural Policy and POSEI."
 
"This falls within the strategy to join the Azoreans in the defence of the Azores in European issues, namely the Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2021-2027 period, which is now under preparation and discussion," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
"It is crucial for us to be able to join efforts and agree on our position to define what we want, and this is another step towards our goal," stated the Regional Secretary.