The Council of the Government of the Azores has decided to express its willingness to "contribute to the national solution that will be eventually found for the reception of refugees under the international obligations of the Portuguese State."

The decision was announced today by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs at the presentation of the Press Release from the Council of the Government in Santa Cruz, Graciosa.

After analysing the situation of refugees in Europe in the current context and the future prospects of the package of measures of the EU "Agenda for Migration," the Regional Government has also decided to approve a financial aid in the amount of 75 thousand Euros to be granted to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Hence, the Government will contribute "to the development of proximity actions that will provide accommodation, food and basic health care to refugees."

The Government of the Azores conveyed its "deep concern over the serious and dramatic humanitarian situation" and expressed its solidarity towards "the hundreds of thousands of war refugees who seek asylum in EU Member States of the as well as towards the European regions that are directly dealing with this issue."

In this context, the Regional Government has launched an appeal to the European Union institutions for "the timely adoption of effective tools and emergency measures to cope with this crisis, particularly to support war refugees and the most affected Member States by mobilising additional funds and logistical support for this purpose.”