The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Ponta Delgada that the "the construction of Europe" requires the joint work of Community institutions working in the area of youth so that we may “listen to their concerns, learn from their experiences and launch new challenges to them."

According to Rodrigo Oliveira, "we will only be able to ensure the future of forthcoming generations and of a Europe that will be true to the principles of solidarity, cohesion and subsidiarity with this proximity work."

Rodrigo Oliveira spoke at the opening of the Plenary Spring Meeting of the Youth Regional Network, which he considered to be one of the most important initiatives promoted by the Assembly of European Regions.

"In addition to providing European youngsters with the opportunity to travel and socialise with other people, this initiative will allow 60 participants from several European regions, aged between 15 and 30,  to become better acquainted with our Region as well as with the common issues for European youth," stressed the government official.

In this regard, the government official mentioned the issues concerning "employment, future development, social values or the economy we want for Europe," highlighting the relevance of building "a Europe that is open to migration and is aware of the importance of multiculturalism and interculturalism in the progress of nations."

The Regional Under Secretary stressed that young people of today will be the future leaders of their local, regional and national governments, MEPs and European commissioners, among other responsibilities and forms of intervention. According to him, the decision on these matters "lies in their hands."

In his speech, Rodrigo Oliveira gave an overview about the Azores, focusing on the political and legislative powers of the Region as well as on the self-government bodies and evolution of Autonomy." The government considered that Autonomy is "an example for many European countries due to the relevance and advantages of a strong regional power, through the results that have been achieved over the last four decades and the proximity of power to the population."

The Regional Under Secretary also mentioned the statute and characteristics of Outermost Regions of the European Union, regarding it as "an example of European diversity but, above all, of the need for the European Union to adapt its policies to the territorial characteristics of its regions."

Rodrigo Oliveira also recalled the action carried out by the Regional Government at the Assembly of European Regions, stressing the initiatives promoted in the archipelago, such as the Annual General Meeting or the Summer University, the years when the Azores held the presidency of the Eurodyssey programme. The latter is "an initiative developed by European regions that continues to provide Azorean youth with a professional traineeship experience in another European country and region, with all the benefits that this experience brings to youngsters, professionally and personally, and to the Azores."

"Both the Regional Youth Network and the Eurodyssey Programme are priority pillars in terms of the Regional Government's presence in the Assembly of European Regions, taking into consideration that these initiatives allow the internationalisation of experiences, the exchange of good practices and the consolidation of the European spirit of Azorean youngsters," said Rodrigo Oliveira.