The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations challenged today young people in Ponta Delgada to participate and take action in the future of the Azores and Europe.
 
"It is your generation that will shape the Azores, Portugal and Europe until 2070/2080. It is your generation that will make the future now," said Rui Bettencourt. He spoke at a lecture on "Young People and the Future of Europe" addressed at the students of the European Club at the Vocational Training School of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada.
 
The government official stressed that "21st century Europe will be Europe for the young people of today will build," noting that "this is the moment for every young person to become part of this adventure."
 
"Europe is a territory, a history, a culture, a way of living, a people and, above all, it is what is lacking to invent and build, it is the future," pointed out Rui Bettencourt. As he stressed to young people, "there is still much to do and to build" and it their generation "that will now build and create this Europe."
 
Rui Bettencourt also urged young people to "exercise their European citizenship, to participate in everything that is necessary, to go abroad and return and to give their contribution." In this regard, he reiterated the importance of their participation in a future full of new challenges, "so that other do not have to decide what needs to be done."
 
"There are three words I believe that are particularly important to be marked in 2019. These are three fundamental words that need to be reflected on by the civil society in the Azores: Youth, Europe and the Future," the Regional Secretariat said, calling young people to become active citizens and to assume their rights and duties.