The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Horta that the Azores "are not just any region," emphasising that "they know what they want" on the European stage in the post 2020 and the future.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the Legislative Assembly during an interpellation to the Government on "The challenges of the Azores in the post-2020 Europe." On the occasion, he recalled all the efforts that have been undertaken in preparing the Azores for the post-2020 period, stressing the potentialities of the Region in the European context.
 
"We should discuss the preparation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2021-2027 period focused on the fact that the Azores are not just any region, seeing that we are Autonomous Region like few in the European Union. In fact, we have a special status as Outermost Region, we are a huge asset to the European Union and Portugal, we have an exemplary implementation of EU funds, we know what we want and our claims are legitimate," stressed Rui Bettencourt.
 
The Secretary for External Relations also noted the establishment of various contacts and the meetings that the Azorean Government has held at regional, national and Community level. According to him, they were "extremely vigilant" and the Government's activities at the European Parliament were "quite intense," taking action when necessary and proactively.
 
The Regional Secretary recalled the recent European Parliament's position on the 2021-2027 financial framework regarding the non-acceptance of cuts in the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, refusing the proposed cuts and the reduction of the co-financing rate. As he noted, this situation "has further strengthened the Azorean position in the coming negotiations of the trialogue - European Commission, European Council and European Parliament."
 
"It is foreseeable that, at best, the European Council will present a MFF proposal for 2021-2027 to the European Parliament next autumn and that the European Parliament will only approve it in the first half of 2020," the government official said, noting the current European context and the holding of the European elections in May.
 
In this context, the Regional Secretary stressed "the importance and the key role" played by the European Parliament in the approval of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2021-2027 period, "which is of utmost importance for the Azores."
 
In his speech, Rui Bettencourt also urged the mobilisation of citizens for the European elections as "everything will play out at the European Parliament."
 
"Bearing in mind that are not just any region and because this a unique moment in the construction of Europe and in the affirmation of the Azores and their Autonomy, we have the obligation to call for the mobilisation of all Azoreans," stated the government official.