The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs stressed in Ponta Delgada the importance of developing youth policies that contribute to the maintenance of youth populations in the Azores.
 
"We must ensure that young people who are pursuing their studies in the Azores can stay in the Region and those studying and acquiring skills outside the archipelago can return and settle in the Region. This will actively contribute to the improvement of social development," said Berto Messias. The government official spoke at the end of a meeting with the leaders of the Social Democratic Youth, which started a cycle of meetings with youth sections of political parties in the Azores.
 
For the Regional Secretary, "saying that young people are the future is neither a cliché nor mere words that look nice in a political speech. It is rather an unquestionable truth to which we must face with great attention because we want Azorean young people in the Azores so that they may contribute to the development of a youth-friendly Region."
 
Berto Messias emphasised that Azorean youth is "one of the most important assets in the archipelago's economic and social development," adding that "the Azores are increasingly a youth-friendly Region."
 
With this round of meetings, Berto Messias intends to listen to the concerns and the contribution of party youths in order to take into account their positions in the definition of medium-term youth policies. According to him, "it is important that all parties should be committed and available to actively participate in the definition of regional youth policies."
 
"What we want is a strong and committed action in the development of this youth agenda, which is primarily based on the promotion of employability and the ability to improve the skills of young people towards the improvement of their employability," said the government official. 
 
"All initiatives supported and promoted by the Government of the Azores must have a strong training component for the Azorean youth with the aim of enhancing civic participation, supporting youth associations and creating mechanisms of participation in conjunction with our young people," said the Regional Secretary.