The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations called today Azorean youngsters to become involved in the construction of a more united Europe that will increasingly promote solidarity among all citizens and pay more attention to regions, such as the Azores, which face specific constraints related to their outermost position.
 
"We have encouraged youngsters to seize the immense potential that Europe brings, whether in exchange projects between students, in scholarships for postgraduate studies or in specialised studies in European Union matters. We need our youngsters to be in Europe and to become aware of our assets and potentialities, but also of our responsibility," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke at the opening session of Europe Day celebrations, which he presided over on behalf of the President of the Government.
 
In his speech, Rodrigo Oliveira recalled that the Europe Day celebrations have taken place on several islands of the archipelago in recent years, emphasising the importance of youth involvement.
 
"You have the key task of preventing xenophobia, combating racism, promoting solidarity among Europeans and avoiding the creation of new walls in Europe," the government official, said recalling that, following the recent refugee crisis, some countries admitted to building walls.
 
"We must speak up and say that we are part of the European Union and that we want a solidarity-based Europe that promotes cohesion among Europeans at economic, social and territorial level," said the Regional Secretary. He added that the Azores are an example of the attention that should be given to territorial cohesion, allowing "European territories to have the opportunity to take advantage of the best we have."
 
In this context, he defended that the Azores are an asset to Europe, adding the Atlantic projection and maritime dimension to Europe, and display a wide environmental and cultural diversity.
 
"If the European Union is made of the same rules for 28 member states and 500 million people, we must treat differently those who live in different territories. There are nine regions, among 260 in Europe, which have unique characteristics," Rodrigo Oliveira said, pointing out the great distance from the European centres, small size, territorial fragmentation, limited markets and traditional production with few alternatives.
 
The Europe Day celebration started by 9:30 AM with the solemn hoisting of the flags of Portugal, the Azores and the European Union at a ceremony that featured the performance of three anthems by elementary school students and the themes "Imagine" and "We are the World" by the Music Group of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School, followed by the release of balloons with the colours of the European Union.
 
The celebration programme also included the final of the contest "Europe Quiz: The Azores and the European Union," which was played by the finalist teams of the multimedia contest "Azores - Autonomy and Europe 1976/1986/2016." The latter aimed to promote reflection of Azorean youngsters about what has changed in the Region over the past four decades, the meaning of autonomy and participation in the European project as well as its benefits and challenges.
 
"Os Arriagas" team from Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School, composed of students Joana Lourenço e Castro, Manuel Menezes Silva and José Rodrigo da Rosa, was the winner of the contest "Europe Quiz - The Azores and the European Union."
 
"Euroaçor" team from Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School, made up of students Luís André Fagundes Silva, Tiago André Azevedo Nunes and Diana Celina Pacheco Brasil, came in second place.In turn, "Três ao Quadrado" team from Santa Maria Basic Education and Secondary School, composed of students Eliana Sofia Melo Lopes, Henrique Bairos Moura and Cátia Sofia Pimentel Novo, won the third place.
 
As for the multimedia contest "Azores - Autonomy and Europe 1976/1986/2016," the winner was once again "Os Arriagas" team. Moreover, honourable mentions were also awarded to the "Três ao Quadrado" and "Os Turistas" teams; the latter represented the Vocational Training School "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Angra do Heroísmo and is made up students Catarina Valadão, Francisca Aguiar and Gonçalo Vieira.
 
The solemn session of Europe Day was held at the auditorium of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School. In addition to speeches and the prize-deliver ceremony, the event also featured an exhibition of the best works developed under the multimedia contest and a dance performed by School Sports Club.
 
The programme also included moments of leisure and socialisation among Azorean youngsters as well as a cultural itinerary through the town of Velas and a walk through the main sites in the two municipalities of São Jorge island.