The President of the Government assured today that the proposed Plan for 2020 aims to respond to the challenges the Region is facing in view of the changes occurred in the Azores since the beginning of the current legislative term. He also announced that the next Budget will enable the full use of the funds granted under the current Community Support Framework.
 
“This will be the Plan that will conclude this legislative period. Today, the positions expressed by social partners and political parties are quite clear about the changes that the Azores have undergone over these four years,” said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
After having received several social partners and political parties throughout the day with a view to preparing next year's Plan and Budget proposals, the President of the Government stated that the Region is currently facing “different and new challenges” from those it faced four years ago in areas such as tourism, housing and employment, among others.
 
“Four years ago, we were discussing how we could bring more tourists to the Region and make this growth consistent. Today, the challenge is how we deal with the increased access to our Region in its most varied aspects,” stated the President of the Government.
 
With regard to housing, the major challenge at the beginning of the legislative period concerned the recovery of the housing stock. Nowadays, “attention to this sector” is needed to address families' desire of owning a home.
 
As for the labour market, Vasco Cordeiro highlighted the current challenge of responding to the growing demand for labour in certain areas as well as the creation of skilled and better paid jobs. In this regard, he pointed out the examples of Terceira Tech Island, the Space Port on Santa Maria and the projects linked to the sea on Faial.
 
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Azores also recalled that 2020 will be the year of completion of the current Community Support Framework. On the occasion, he stressed that the next Plan and Budget will make full use of the Community funds that have been available to the Region.
 
“This is particularly significant, not just for what it means from the point of view of using these financial resources but also for what it means to the Azoreans in various areas, such as Health, Education and business competitiveness," highlighted the President of the Government.
 
Vasco Cordeiro received the Azores Fisheries Federation, the Azores Agricultural Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores, UGT (General Union of Workers), CGTP-IN (General Union of Workers), BE (Left Block), PCP (Communist Party), CDS/PP (People's Party), PSD (Social Democratic Party) and PS (Socialist Party). After these meetings, he stressed that the documents to be submitted by the Government to the Legislative Assembly pursue the Region's strategy towards its economic, social and environmental sustainability.
 
“The sustainability of maintaining a solid and consolidated growth path that translates into improvements in people’s lives in these four years is one of the cornerstones of the Plan for 2020,” stated the President of the Government.