The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations reiterated in Ponta Delgada the importance of having young people with expertise on European issues to face the new challenges that the Azores will have to address in coming decades.
 
"The Azores are today a very different from the reality of 20 or 30 years ago," Rui Bettencourt stated, stressing that they are "on an international and European stage that requires a strong technical staff for the launch of international projects in scientific and business areas."
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the end of a meeting with the Board of the Students' Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies of the University of the Azores. On the occasion, he pointed out that "current trends and those for the next decade will be towards the implementation of European projects with knowledge, not only on financing matters but also on those concerning European legislation and European Community."
 
"It was very good exchange of views with the Students' Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies of the University of the Azores, which is composed of students who are studying in depth European matters, Atlantic matters and international relations. In this regard, we came to the conclusion that there is a certain number of topics that could approach us," said the government official.
 
"These students have a huge learning potential that will enrich private or public regional entities with this expertise in developing European projects," the Regional Secretary said, stressing that this is "an interesting starting point."
 
Rui Bettencourt also stated that this degree "will later contribute to the acquisition of more specific knowledge and know-how in the development of European projects." Moreover, it will endow students with the necessary skills "to assess and analyse the international reality" as well as to foster, together with public or private companies, the capabilities of these companies and entities in the international scene."
 
The Regional Secretary announced that a new application period for the European Traineeship Programme due to start on October 1 in Brussels will open on July 1. In this regard, he noted that "all the trainees have completed this programme successfully as they have been recruited to other relevant European institutions and institutions."
 
Moreover, the government official added that the application period for the Medeiros Ferreira Scholarship for attendance in the College of Europe will open, once again, in the end of the year. According to him, it is important that, every year, there will be a young Azorean studying at this institution to "enhance our knowledge on European matters."