The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs stressed in Horta that it is fundamental for Azorean youth to "pressure and scrutinise" the Government of the Azores." In this regard, he added that the Government wants "more participative, more active and more committed young people to the construction of the region's future."
 
Berto Messias spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the presentation of the Plan and Budget proposals for the coming year. He emphasised the commitment to participation, noting that 2018 will be the year of implementation of the Youth Participatory Budget in the Region. The latter is a mechanism for "the civic and active participation of young Azoreans that, integrated into the Azores Participatory Budget, will certainly become an important tool for the participation of Azorean youth."
 
The Regional Secretary also stated that "the greater the mobility of young people within the Azores, the greater will be their predisposition to know, respect and be in solidarity with the reality of the other islands" of the archipelago.
 
Furthermore, he underlined that the renewed Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel will open in 2018, an "iconic building that enriches and values this important network of infrastructures as well as the regional tourism offer."
 
"Together with Interjovem Card, the Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel is an important tool for internal mobility and an important contribution to increase cohesion in our Region," Berto Messias said, recalling the benefits recently included in this card, such as free admission to the archipelago's interpretive centres and museums.
 
As part of the stimulus to creativity, Berto Messias highlighted the investment in the new Labjovem competition, which, next year, “will be extended to all Azorean schools under the theme of Energy Efficiency."
 
In his speech, he also revealed that the partnership with the "Walk & Talk" event will be intensified, which he described as "an important cultural asset of the Region for new generations."
 
The launch of a non-formal education plan designated as the J Academy at Terceira Youth Academy and the increase of support for youth associations in 2018 were other matters highlighted by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs.