The Secretary of the Presidency stated today that the Plan and Budget proposals for 2012 in the area of Youth "must be analysed taking into account the economic and financial context we live in, which is marked by recession, thus requiring the correction of some budget and macroeconomic imbalances," which has an impact on the global amount as well as on the various sectors."

André Bradford's statement was made following a meeting with the Commission on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment and Labour of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, in which he explained to the regional parliamentary commissions the Government's proposals for 2012.

The government official pointed out "the major challenge for next year as the combination of budget consolidation measures while maintaining an agenda to support the development and investment according to the general guidelines for the medium term, although adapted to the current context."

As for the investment plan in the area of youth, André Bradford said that "the global amount is relatively reduced, which represents a decrease of about seven percent," although he minimised this fact and considered that "if we analyse the legislative period, we may verify that the average annual investment is maintained."

With regard to the Government’s investments in this area, taking into account the amount allocated for next year and the progress that has been made since the beginning of the legislative period, "next year, which marks the end of this period, the Government of the Azores will invest more financial resources in Azorean youth than it did in the first year."

As André Bradford stressed, one of the main guidelines for the Youth Policy developed by the Government is embodied in the "significant increase in funding to youth initiatives, considered as the driving force of their activity, either individually or through their associations. In addition, the government official underlined that it represents a "clear concentration of resources because this is what those who develop youth policies hope."

The government official underlined that the support to the activities developed by youth associations, "will continue and that the commitments included in the activity plans, which the Government has made over the years, will be also maintained."

The maintenance of programmes such as the Free Time Occupation and Youth Mobility, which André Bradford pointed out as "the hallmarks of socialist governments" are another strategic option of the proposals for 2012 that "will operate as usual", in addition to the investment in infrastructure.

Regarding the construction of infrastructures, André Bradford stated that the Government "will maintain the Belo Jardim youth training centre in Praia da Vitoria, Terceira, as a central investment of over one million Euros," stressing that this infrastructure is the result of an "election commitment that closes the construction cycle of infrastructures to support youth associations."