The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations challenged young Azoreans to become actively involved in the European project and the construction of Europe, emphasising their role and importance in the future of the European Union.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at Arrifes Basic Education School on São Miguel Island in the context of a project promoted by the school's European Club. He stressed that this initiative aims to "bring the Azores to the rest of the world and bring the rest of the world to the Azores."
 
"Europe has 500 million inhabitants; we are only 250 thousands. This means that there is one Azorean for every 20 thousand Europeans," said Rui Bettencourt. However, "it is not this number that counts and we should not be limited by it."
 
"We want to build a European future. We have a dynamic youth and we want to have an active role in Europe. This is what we have to tell Europe as we need its policy and European policies need the Azores," stressed the Regional Secretary. He spoke during an interview we gave to four students under the school's European Club.
 
At a time when "most Europeans or, at least, a considerable number of Europeans have doubts about the European Union," when "citizens in Continental Europe are not so pro-European as they were 20 years ago and when there are doubts whether Europe is faltering or not, the Azoreans have great expectations about Europe. This gives us greater legitimacy to assert ourselves in the European Union."
 
The Regional Secretary said he believes that the Azores are "a full European and pro-European Region that defends Europe and is available to take active part in European policies."
 
"Due to their European convictions, the Azoreans are right now more important in Europe than a few years ago," said the government official.
 
For Rui Bettencourt, it is important to tell Europe that the Azores want to assume an active and participatory role, because we "deserve and wish to have a role in Europe and, therefore, Europe would not be quite the same if it did not have the Azores."
 
The Regional Secretary also urged young people to follow the example set by the students of Arrifes School, who are European and promote the activities developed by their Club. It is important for them to see how Europe works and where decisions are made as, by end of the 21st century, young people will have the responsibility of taking the fate of the Azores in their hands and this European dimension will be present in their lives.
 
In this interview, the young reporters of the European Club of Arrifes Basic Education School questioned the government official on diverse aspects, including the main lines of action for external relations of the Azores with Europe and the world, the new perspectives of relations and opportunities with European institutions. Moreover, the interview also addressed the involvement of young people in issues related to European citizenship and their participation in European dynamics.
 
The European Club of Arrifes Basic Education School, one of the 21 active clubs in regional schools, will participate next year in an exchange with the European Club of D. Dinis School Group. This initiative includes a visit to the Europe Space, an area dedicated to providing information to citizens that was established by the European Commission Representation in Lisbon, the European Parliament information Office and the National Assembly.