The President of the Government stated today that the Region is involved in "several decisive battles" taking place simultaneously in the context of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasising that the protection of the health of the Azoreans and the defence of employment and the economy are interconnected.

We are not talking about watertight situations. We cannot make the mistake of considering that, having won the battle for public health, we will then move on to the battle for the economy. 

They influence each other and are interconnected," stressed Vasco Cordeiro, who spoke at the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly taking place by video conference. 

According to the President of the Government, the way the Region will manage to get out of the "battle for the protection of the health of the Azoreans will decisively influence" the way economic activity will recover, with Tourism being one of the sectors where this interconnection will be most evident. 

"Every day, objective data are released by independent sources, which allow anyone to assess the way the Azores are fighting this pandemic and the results we are achieving in this fight," said Vasco Cordeiro. 

During this parliamentary debate, the President of the Government also underlined the importance of Regional Autonomy in the way the Region has coped with the challenges imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro highlighted the important efforts undertaken by a wide range of professionals from the most diverse areas, such as farmers and fishers, social solidarity institutions, and regional and local administration workers, among others. 

"I would like to make a special mention to the Regional Health Service. We do not have a perfect Regional Health Service, but we certainly have a Regional Health Service that is a source of pride for all Azoreans," said Vasco Cordeiro. 

According to him, it is important not to make the mistake of "going from one extreme to the other" in the assessment of the Regional Health Service, now "praising it when, about three or four months ago, it was considered a motive of disgrace for the Azores and the Azoreans."
 
"I reiterate today the recognition I have shown in the past: despite not being a perfect Regional Health Service and not being free from shortages, it is a source of pride for the Azoreans," assured the President of the Government. 

Regarding the proposal presented by the French and German governments towards a recovery fund for the European Union of nearly 500 billion Euros, the President of the Government considered it to be an "important proposal," as it highlights the role of Regions in the recovery process as well as the relevance of the Cohesion Policy.