The Under Secretary for European Affairs and External Cooperation considers that “the increasing adherence of Azorean youngsters to youth associations indubitably reflects the dynamics, the impulse for solidarity and the audacious and innovation spirit which so well characterise youth and which are determinant for the development of the Azores.”
Rodrigo Oliveira’s beliefs were expressed in Ponta Delgada on Thursday at the ceremony where the European Citizenship prize, which is annually awarded by the European Parliament, was delivered by the European Parliament Member Paulo Casaca to the Azorean Federation of Youth Associations.
Emphasising the work developed by the awarded entity, the Regional Under Secretary praised “the Azorean Federation of Youth Associations, as well as their leaders and members, for the work they have been developing in favour of Azorean Youth and especially for the fair recognition that we are celebrating today.”
Rodrigo Oliveira mentioned several initiatives of the Government of the Azores in the context of youth policies, linked to European affairs, stating that “emancipating youngsters in every dimension, providing the necessary means for their self-fulfilment and the multiplicity of opportunities for the exercise of citizenship, is a common challenge of the Government of the Azores and the Azorean Federation of Youth Associations.”
Furthermore, Rodrigo Oliveira also challenged Azorean youngsters “to give once more an example of civic participation, through the mobilisation of society for the importance of the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament.”
“We are counting upon the Azorean youngsters for the continuous establishment of the Azores as an interested, committed and participative region of the European Union,” added Rodrigo Oliveira.