The Government of the Azores announced today the establishment of "mechanisms to control regional expenditure" under the approval of a regional implementing decree defining the implementation of the Regional Budget for 2012.

According to the Regional Secretary of the Presidency, the Budget Execution decree defines the mechanisms to control expenditure, including "the use of budget allocations, fund requests, limits and powers for expenditure authorisation."

While presenting the press release of the last meeting of the Council of the Government, André Bradford also informed that the recently approved legislation also introduces "added restrictions to the acquisition of vehicles, building leases and leasing contracts as part of the cost containment strategy that has been implemented by the Regional Government in the regional administration."

In order to strengthen information mechanisms, the autonomous Funds and Services as well as the Public Companies included in the budget consolidation strategy are henceforth required to submit budget execution reports on a monthly basis.

Under this measure, André Bradford explained that public companies included in the budget consolidation strategy "will be automatically included under the scope of regional budget execution in terms of accounting and information, which will reinforce the rigour and transparency of regional public accounts."

At the same meeting, the Government has decided to partially suspend the Ponta Delgada Municipal Master Plan with the purpose of building a cold storage area in Ponta Delgada after complying with the legal requirements for prior hearing.

This press release also informs that the project concerning the construction of the cold storage plant to support the fishing sector is being concluded and the respective public call for tender will be launched by the beginning of next quarter.