The President of the Regional Government announced the approval of the legislation establishing the seven Incentive Subsystems to be implemented until 2020 under the new Incentive Scheme for Economic Activities - COMPETIR+.

"The Council of the Government has already approved the Regional Implementing Decrees." This was an "extremely significant" step towards the goal of implementing the new Incentive Scheme by the third quarter of this year," said Vasco Cordeiro.

Under COMPETIR+, the Council of the Government approved the regulations establishing the Incentive Subsystems for the Promotion of Exports; for Internationalisation; for Sustainable Integrated Urbanism; for Qualification and Innovation; for Qualified and Creative Entrepreneurship; for Local Development and for Support Business Efficiency.

After receiving in audience MEPs Ricardo Serrão Santos and Sofia Ribeiro, the President of the Government announced that with regard to the Community funds for the 2014-2020 period, the Regional Government will formally submit the Regional Operational Programme on August 7. This decision follows the signature of the Partnership Agreement between Portugal and the European Commission to be held this week.

"The Government of the Azores, in conjunction with the National Government and EU institutions, has been working on the Regional Operational Programme, which will face a decisive moment on August 7 with its formal submission," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.

According to Vasco Cordeiro, the formal submission of the Regional Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 period could only take place after the signing of the Partnership Agreement between Portugal and the EU. This is a further step towards the implementation of this programme. It will benefit companies, workers and several various economic sectors.

"I would like to reveal the great spirit of partnership and the concertation that was reached among social partners throughout this process. It does not mean that we always agree on everything, but the construction of the new Incentive System and the Operational Programme has been carried out in conjunction with social partners and political parties," stressed the President of the Government.

In addition, Vasco Cordeiro demonstrated his willingness to collaborate with MEPs Ricardo Serrão Santos and Sofia Ribeiro, given that that the EU Parliament, like other European institutions, is one of the key pieces in the Community decision-making process.

"The fact that the Azores are represented at the European Parliament by MEPs Ricardo Serrão Santos and Sofia Ribeiro is important insofar as the interests of the Azores are being safeguarded at this decision-making body," said the President of the Government.