The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations reiterated at the Legislative Assembly in Horta the Regional Government's intention to intensify its action with the European Parliament and other European institutions.
 
"We must adopt a strategy for intensifying our action towards the European Parliament," said Rui Bettencourt, who spoke during the discussion of a draft resolution on "The Azores and the new Community Support Framework."
 
For the government official, the European Parliament “is fundamental” in this process as far as it will approve the Multiannual Financial Framework, hence the need to pay “a great deal of attention” to this reality.
 
“Our strategy is based on surveillance and we will be following up on the four committees of the European Parliament,” the government official said, mentioning the committee on Regional Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries and Budgets.
 
"These four commissions of the European Parliament are the ones we should follow up with particular attention as part of this follow-up and surveillance strategy for all matters that concern the Azores in particular," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
According to the Regional Secretary, we are living "a particular and challenging moment that is unprecedented both in terms of European construction and preparation of this financial framework.”
 
"This moment is unprecedented because nothing will be as before in terms of the approach, negotiation and preparation of this financial framework," stated the government official.
 
“In the approach, we have to adopt a strategy of external alliances that will enable us to be heard as well as a strategy of internal conciliation, which will give us a stronger voice and an in-depth knowledge of reality," noted the Regional Secretary for External Relations.
 
Rui Bettencourt revealed that he will have a series of working meetings in Strasbourg and in Brussels next week. He will meet with the Chair for Regional Development, Younnos Omarjee, the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budgets and with the rapporteur for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework at the European Parliament, MEP José Manuel Fernandes, in addition to other MEPs responsible for the areas of Fisheries and Agriculture.
 
The Regional Secretary also announced that he will meet with a group of Azoreans living in Brussels, who are involved in European affairs at various Community institutions. According to him, this initiative aims "to call for their mobilisation and coordination" so that, within their institutions, they may take action.