The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations challenged today young Azoreans to actively exercise their European citizenship and participate proactively in the European project.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the seminar on "European Integration and Citizenship," an event directed to the students attending INETESE Vocational Training School. The government official emphasised the specificities of the Azores as an Outermost Region of the European Union, stressing that "the big question is to know whether we are going where we want to, because Europe is there."
 
In his speech, he highlighted that Azoreans should be "aware" of their strength.
 
"In this rather confusing and dangerous world, often with many questions about the future, those who know where they are going will have a major advantage," stressed Rui Bettencourt. He challenged young people to be part of all this process because the "Azores are Europe and have a huge potential."
 
The Regional Secretary alluded to the humanistic and social spirit that has guided the founders of the European Union since the end of World War II, namely Schuman, Monnet or Delores. In this regard, the government official mentioned the "current relevance “of Churchill's speech delivered in Zurich in 1946, noting that "if Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance, there would be no limit to the happiness, prosperity and glory of its inhabitants."
 
"We must return and take into account the values that founded the European spirit," the government official defended, adding that "European citizenship has to do with the rights and duties to participate and take action according to the civic consciousness."
 
Rui Bettencourt stressed that "public action is fundamental and shared public action is even better" and, therefore, young people should be part of this path, where "we must stand united."
 
In the discussion period that followed, young students posed several questions to the Regional Secretary, namely the work he develops as government official, the contribution of the Azores to the European Union and the future of Europe. They also addressed themes such as the European open space, security, terrorism, refugees and migration.