The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated today that the leadership of the Azores in European projects is a "clear demonstration" of the international competitiveness of the Region.
 
Bruno Pacheco stressed the fact that the Azores have already taken over the coordination of two European projects funded by the European Commission through DG Environment "demonstrates the work that has been carried out by the Azorean Government towards the internationalisation of Azorean scientific teams."
 
The Regional Director spoke at the meeting that marked the beginning of MISTIC'SEAS II, mentioning that this project will be "crucial" for the second phase of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, "an important environmental tool" for an Integrated Maritime Policy in Europe.
 
MISTIC'SEAS II follows the MISTIC'SEAS I project, also coordinated by the Azores. It aimed to standardise assessment methodologies for populations of birds, sea turtles and cetaceans in the Macaronesian archipelagos; these animals are of "great importance to the conservation of marine ecosystems."
 
In his speech, Bruno Pacheco stressed "the close institutional cooperation" in this project, which included "internationally recognised" scientific teams from the Azores, the Canary Islands and Madeira. He added that the second phase, which now starts, will implement the monitoring programmes defined under MISTIC'SEAS I.
 
MISTIC'SEAS II is coordinated by the Regional Fund for Science and Technology in conjunction with the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs. This project will run for two years and will be funded in the amount of 1.4 million Euros.
 
Currently, the Government of the Azores has six transnational European projects in the area of biodiversity, including the NetBiome, MISTIC'SEAS I; both have been concluded. In turn, MISTIC’SEAS II, INDICIT, BEST III and BIODIVERSA III are ongoing and there another 11 projects under way in several areas of interest to the Region.