Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Mais de uma centena de jovens dos Açores e Madeira na Academia do Jovem Voluntário
Mais de uma centena de jovens dos Açores e Madeira na Academia do Jovem Voluntário
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Public consultation on new fisheries regulations in the Azores
Public consultation on new fisheries regulations in the Azores
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
€1.3 million in funding allocated to culture
€1.3 million in funding allocated to culture
Nota de Imprensa
March 23, 2026 Mais de uma centena de jovens dos Açores e Madeira na Academia do Jovem Voluntário Um total de 120 jovens dos Açores e da Madeira já participaram, desde 2021, na Academia do Jovem Voluntário, um programa comum às duas regiões autónomas para promover a participação de jovens em projetos de voluntariado no arquipélago vizinho e implementado nos Açores pela Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego, através da Direção Regional da Juventude. Do total de participantes, 61 são residentes nos Açores e 59 residentes na Madeira. A Secretária Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego sublinha que a adesão indica que “este programa interessa aos jovens das duas regiões, pelo que representa em termos de intercâmbio e de oportunidades para a participação na sociedade e o exercício da cidadania ativa”. Nesse pressuposto, e na sequência da avaliação à implementação do programa, o Governo Regional acaba de reforçar os apoios aos jovens açorianos integrados em projetos de voluntariado na Madeira, para “garantir condições de participação mais atrativas”, explica Maria João Carreiro. Entre as melhorias ao regulamento da Academia do Jovem Voluntário, consagradas em Portaria publicada em Jornal Oficial, está o reforço da bolsa de apoio atribuída pelo Governo dos Açores aos jovens açorianos em voluntariado na Madeira, que passa a ser de 500 euros/mês, o que significa um reforço de 100 euros em relação à bolsa fixada no ano de 2022. Os jovens açorianos passam ainda a beneficiar de apoios às despesas com o transfere entre o aeroporto e o alojamento na Madeira, e vice-versa, mantendo, entre outros, o apoio integral às viagens de ida e volta entre os Açores e a Madeira, bem como seguro de acidentes pessoais. O alojamento durante o projeto de voluntariado é assegurado pela Região Autónoma da Madeira. Os projetos de voluntariado no âmbito do programa Academia do Jovem Voluntário têm a duração de um mês, entre abril e novembro, a começar sempre no início de cada mês. As candidaturas de jovens e entidades promotoras de projetos de voluntariado decorrem ao longo de todo o ano no Portal da Juventude, disponível em juventude.azores.gov.pt . Podem participar no programa jovens com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 30 anos, à data do início do projeto de voluntariado, residentes nas Regiões Autónomas dos Açores e da Madeira. Também para os jovens residentes na Madeira em voluntariado nos Açores, o Governo dos Açores, através da Portaria agora publicada, assegura não só o alojamento como também o apoio ao transporte terrestre entre o local de residência e o local onde decorre o projeto, bem como o apoio ao transfere no trajeto aeroporto/alojamento, e vice-versa, e atividades de integração sociocultural.
March 23, 2026 Mais de uma centena de jovens dos Açores e Madeira na Academia do Jovem Voluntário Um total de 120 jovens dos Açores e da Madeira já participaram, desde 2021, na Academia do Jovem Voluntário, um programa comum às duas regiões autónomas para promover a participação de jovens em projetos de voluntariado no arquipélago vizinho e implementado nos Açores pela Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego, através da Direção Regional da Juventude. Do total de participantes, 61 são residentes nos Açores e 59 residentes na Madeira. A Secretária Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego sublinha que a adesão indica que “este programa interessa aos jovens das duas regiões, pelo que representa em termos de intercâmbio e de oportunidades para a participação na sociedade e o exercício da cidadania ativa”. Nesse pressuposto, e na sequência da avaliação à implementação do programa, o Governo Regional acaba de reforçar os apoios aos jovens açorianos integrados em projetos de voluntariado na Madeira, para “garantir condições de participação mais atrativas”, explica Maria João Carreiro. Entre as melhorias ao regulamento da Academia do Jovem Voluntário, consagradas em Portaria publicada em Jornal Oficial, está o reforço da bolsa de apoio atribuída pelo Governo dos Açores aos jovens açorianos em voluntariado na Madeira, que passa a ser de 500 euros/mês, o que significa um reforço de 100 euros em relação à bolsa fixada no ano de 2022. Os jovens açorianos passam ainda a beneficiar de apoios às despesas com o transfere entre o aeroporto e o alojamento na Madeira, e vice-versa, mantendo, entre outros, o apoio integral às viagens de ida e volta entre os Açores e a Madeira, bem como seguro de acidentes pessoais. O alojamento durante o projeto de voluntariado é assegurado pela Região Autónoma da Madeira. Os projetos de voluntariado no âmbito do programa Academia do Jovem Voluntário têm a duração de um mês, entre abril e novembro, a começar sempre no início de cada mês. As candidaturas de jovens e entidades promotoras de projetos de voluntariado decorrem ao longo de todo o ano no Portal da Juventude, disponível em juventude.azores.gov.pt . Podem participar no programa jovens com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 30 anos, à data do início do projeto de voluntariado, residentes nas Regiões Autónomas dos Açores e da Madeira. Também para os jovens residentes na Madeira em voluntariado nos Açores, o Governo dos Açores, através da Portaria agora publicada, assegura não só o alojamento como também o apoio ao transporte terrestre entre o local de residência e o local onde decorre o projeto, bem como o apoio ao transfere no trajeto aeroporto/alojamento, e vice-versa, e atividades de integração sociocultural.
Nota de Imprensa
March 22, 2026 Public consultation on new fisheries regulations in the Azores The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries announced the launch of the procedure for drafting two key ordinances for the fisheries sector in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. These include the adoption of new regulations governing the management of fishing ports and harbours, as well as the second amendment to the general regulations governing the operation of fish auctions, cold storage units, collection points and collection vehicles. The initiative seeks to update the current legal framework by replacing Decree No. 24/2018 of March 19, as amended by Decree No. 42/2019 of June 18, with a new regulatory instrument. The procedure was initiated by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, who also chairs the committee, in accordance with Article 55 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015 of January 7. According to Article 98(1) of the CPA, an opening notice has been published regarding the commencement of the procedure and the associated public consultation; the documents are available at: https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/srmp/participa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-procedimental. Interested parties have 10 working days from the date of publication (March 20) to register as such and submit comments or suggestions. Any interested party wishing to be registered must submit a written declaration addressed to the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, expressly stating the procedure in question, as well as their name, tax identification number and email address (if available), along with consent for the use of said information for notification purposes, in accordance with Article 112(1)(c) of the CPA. Submissions should preferably be emailed to [email protected], but may also be sent by post to Rua Cônsul Dabney – Colónia Alemã, PO Box 9, 9900-014 Horta, Faial, or by fax to +351 292 240 890. Should there be registered interested parties, a hearing of interested parties will subsequently be held, in accordance with Article 100 of the CPA. Once the consultation phase has been completed, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries will review the contributions received. The final approval of the regulations will be accompanied by a report containing an overview of the submissions received, as well as a comprehensive assessment and the rationale for the options adopted.
March 22, 2026 Public consultation on new fisheries regulations in the Azores The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries announced the launch of the procedure for drafting two key ordinances for the fisheries sector in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. These include the adoption of new regulations governing the management of fishing ports and harbours, as well as the second amendment to the general regulations governing the operation of fish auctions, cold storage units, collection points and collection vehicles. The initiative seeks to update the current legal framework by replacing Decree No. 24/2018 of March 19, as amended by Decree No. 42/2019 of June 18, with a new regulatory instrument. The procedure was initiated by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, who also chairs the committee, in accordance with Article 55 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015 of January 7. According to Article 98(1) of the CPA, an opening notice has been published regarding the commencement of the procedure and the associated public consultation; the documents are available at: https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/srmp/participa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-procedimental. Interested parties have 10 working days from the date of publication (March 20) to register as such and submit comments or suggestions. Any interested party wishing to be registered must submit a written declaration addressed to the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, expressly stating the procedure in question, as well as their name, tax identification number and email address (if available), along with consent for the use of said information for notification purposes, in accordance with Article 112(1)(c) of the CPA. Submissions should preferably be emailed to [email protected], but may also be sent by post to Rua Cônsul Dabney – Colónia Alemã, PO Box 9, 9900-014 Horta, Faial, or by fax to +351 292 240 890. Should there be registered interested parties, a hearing of interested parties will subsequently be held, in accordance with Article 100 of the CPA. Once the consultation phase has been completed, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries will review the contributions received. The final approval of the regulations will be accompanied by a report containing an overview of the submissions received, as well as a comprehensive assessment and the rationale for the options adopted.
Nota de Imprensa
March 20, 2026 Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention As part of World Oral Health Day, marked today, the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the Regional Government’s commitment to promoting oral health through specific measures that improve access, prevention and the quality of care delivered to the Azorean population. Among the investments made, special emphasis should be placed on the replacement of 12 dental chairs in Island Health centres, funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), covering five centres in São Miguel, three in Terceira, two in Faial, one in São Jorge and one in Flores, representing an overall investment of about €350,000. The Dental Voucher programme has also been showing encouraging results in improving access to care. Since its launch in October 2025, about 134 applications have been submitted, including 115 on the island of São Miguel and 19 on the island of São Jorge. This measure allows users to access treatment from participating providers, paying just 5% of the total cost, representing an important step towards promoting access to oral health across the Region. Regarding prevention, the Regional Secretary for Health highlighted the excellent results of the Oral Cancer Intervention Programme (PICCOA), coordinated by the Azores Oncology Centre, which aims to detect pre-malignant and malignant oral cavity lesions at an early stage. The programme includes annual screenings targeting specific age groups, consultations for referred cases and the distribution of the Individual Oral Health Report (BISO 40+), thereby strengthening surveillance and ensuring timely referral for specialist treatment. So far, the second phase of the PICCOA programme (2022–2026) has recorded 36,354 screenings, with a participation rate of 29.3%, surpassing the first phase results (2017–2021). World Oral Health Day is being marked with various initiatives at health centres across the island. In this regard, the São Miguel Island Health Unit will host informative exhibitions, health education sessions, screenings and activities for the school community. The activities also include initiatives at various health centres, promoting oral health literacy across different age groups. The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security emphasised that “this is a path that will continue to be consolidated, with a focus on prevention, universal access and the recognition of professionals, ensuring better standards of oral health for all Azoreans, whilst not forgetting the Government’s commitment to move forward, this year, with the creation of a career path for dentists within the Regional Health Service (SRS).”
March 20, 2026 Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention As part of World Oral Health Day, marked today, the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the Regional Government’s commitment to promoting oral health through specific measures that improve access, prevention and the quality of care delivered to the Azorean population. Among the investments made, special emphasis should be placed on the replacement of 12 dental chairs in Island Health centres, funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), covering five centres in São Miguel, three in Terceira, two in Faial, one in São Jorge and one in Flores, representing an overall investment of about €350,000. The Dental Voucher programme has also been showing encouraging results in improving access to care. Since its launch in October 2025, about 134 applications have been submitted, including 115 on the island of São Miguel and 19 on the island of São Jorge. This measure allows users to access treatment from participating providers, paying just 5% of the total cost, representing an important step towards promoting access to oral health across the Region. Regarding prevention, the Regional Secretary for Health highlighted the excellent results of the Oral Cancer Intervention Programme (PICCOA), coordinated by the Azores Oncology Centre, which aims to detect pre-malignant and malignant oral cavity lesions at an early stage. The programme includes annual screenings targeting specific age groups, consultations for referred cases and the distribution of the Individual Oral Health Report (BISO 40+), thereby strengthening surveillance and ensuring timely referral for specialist treatment. So far, the second phase of the PICCOA programme (2022–2026) has recorded 36,354 screenings, with a participation rate of 29.3%, surpassing the first phase results (2017–2021). World Oral Health Day is being marked with various initiatives at health centres across the island. In this regard, the São Miguel Island Health Unit will host informative exhibitions, health education sessions, screenings and activities for the school community. The activities also include initiatives at various health centres, promoting oral health literacy across different age groups. The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security emphasised that “this is a path that will continue to be consolidated, with a focus on prevention, universal access and the recognition of professionals, ensuring better standards of oral health for all Azoreans, whilst not forgetting the Government’s commitment to move forward, this year, with the creation of a career path for dentists within the Regional Health Service (SRS).”
Nota de Imprensa
March 20, 2026 €1.3 million in funding allocated to culture The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport, Sofia Ribeiro, announced today the breakdown of cultural funding to be allocated to each artistic area under the Legal Support Scheme for Cultural Activities (RJAAC), totalling about €1.3 million. The Order published today specifies the amounts to be allocated across sectors such as the audiovisual sector, the performing and visual arts, heritage, publishing, and interdisciplinary events. According to the government official, the criteria stipulated for allocating these funds “were based on the amounts awarded to applications in the corresponding artistic sectors last year.” The document earmarks €1.164 million for cultural projects, based on annual or biennial programmes or initiatives, with a significant interest in the preservation, enhancement, promotion and dissemination of culture in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. It also stipulates €77,000 for the acquisition, refurbishment, improvement, extension or construction of infrastructures intended for cultural activities. It also allocates €16,000 for the acquisition and conservation of musical instruments, the purchase of uniforms, costumes and repertoire by cultural groups, and a further €15,000 for the costs of publishing cultural works. “This funding was allocated in amounts ranging from €500 to €50,000 per project, depending on the area of activity. This is the main amendment introduced by the new legislation,” stated Sofia Ribeiro. It should be noted that the new regulation was revised by the Regional Government in 2024, and this is the first time that funding has been allocated under the new regulation. According to the government official, cultural agents “now have 15 working days to change the tier they have applied for, if they so wish.” “As they are already aware of their assessment, and consequently of their position on the ranked list, they have a clear idea of the funding that will be allocated, a process which is automatic,” she emphasised. RJAAC remains the main source of support for cultural organisations. The Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport also provides funding under the Support Programme for Recreational and Philharmonic Societies (SOREFIL), exclusively for philharmonic societies, as well as for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the whaling heritage of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
March 20, 2026 €1.3 million in funding allocated to culture The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport, Sofia Ribeiro, announced today the breakdown of cultural funding to be allocated to each artistic area under the Legal Support Scheme for Cultural Activities (RJAAC), totalling about €1.3 million. The Order published today specifies the amounts to be allocated across sectors such as the audiovisual sector, the performing and visual arts, heritage, publishing, and interdisciplinary events. According to the government official, the criteria stipulated for allocating these funds “were based on the amounts awarded to applications in the corresponding artistic sectors last year.” The document earmarks €1.164 million for cultural projects, based on annual or biennial programmes or initiatives, with a significant interest in the preservation, enhancement, promotion and dissemination of culture in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. It also stipulates €77,000 for the acquisition, refurbishment, improvement, extension or construction of infrastructures intended for cultural activities. It also allocates €16,000 for the acquisition and conservation of musical instruments, the purchase of uniforms, costumes and repertoire by cultural groups, and a further €15,000 for the costs of publishing cultural works. “This funding was allocated in amounts ranging from €500 to €50,000 per project, depending on the area of activity. This is the main amendment introduced by the new legislation,” stated Sofia Ribeiro. It should be noted that the new regulation was revised by the Regional Government in 2024, and this is the first time that funding has been allocated under the new regulation. According to the government official, cultural agents “now have 15 working days to change the tier they have applied for, if they so wish.” “As they are already aware of their assessment, and consequently of their position on the ranked list, they have a clear idea of the funding that will be allocated, a process which is automatic,” she emphasised. RJAAC remains the main source of support for cultural organisations. The Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport also provides funding under the Support Programme for Recreational and Philharmonic Societies (SOREFIL), exclusively for philharmonic societies, as well as for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the whaling heritage of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Nota de Imprensa
March 20, 2026 Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has seen three strategic innovation projects for regional agriculture approved by the European Parliament, focusing on crop diversification, the circular economy and animal welfare. For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “today is an important day for the Azores.” He emphasised that the approval of these initiatives “demonstrates that Azorean agriculture is a vibrant and innovative force that is essential for the sustainable development of the archipelago.” The three projects, representing an overall investment of around €1.6 million, aim to prepare the sector for new food and environmental requirements: As part of the efforts to promote agricultural innovation, the "AZOREAN COCOA" project has been launched. With a budget of €108,000 and an expected lifespan of 24 months, this pilot study will assess the agricultural and economic viability of growing cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in the Region. With the establishment of experimental plots on São Miguel and Terceira, soils, microclimates and costs will be analysed with the aim of paving the way for a new value-added agricultural sector linked to artisanal chocolate and agritourism. In the area of sustainability and the circular economy, the second phase of the “Bio Filtering” project is moving forward, focusing on the processing and reuse of slaughterhouse waste. Representing an estimated investment of €359,000, the initiative will use natural solutions (such as aquatic plants and accelerated vermicomposting) to transform organic waste into high-quality agricultural compost. The project, which can be replicated across the nine islands, is expected to reduce unprocessed organic waste by up to 5,000 tonnes per year by 2027. The third initiative, “CALF FRIENDLY - Happy Calves,” is aimed at dairy farms on the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. This project has a budget of €1.13 million for the 2026–2028 period. The initiative promotes the suckling of calves for up to three months, a single daily milking and the use of biodiverse pastures. It also provides for the creation of Environmental Credits to offset producers and the awarding of the European “Calf Friendly” label. António Ventura noted that these projects represent a clear “European recognition of the diversification of food production” in the Azores, making a direct contribution “to carbon negativity, soil sustainability, zero waste and a circular economy.” The respective documents will now be submitted to the European Commission, where the technical and financial assessment phase will take place. The submission of these proposals to the European Parliament stemmed from the close institutional cooperation with the MEP for the Azores, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, “this proactive approach between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food and MEP Paulo Nascimento Cabral has resulted in a direct benefit for the Azorean people.” It will ensure a path for the sector that is “consumer-focused, more resilient and diversified, and aligned with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.”
March 20, 2026 Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has seen three strategic innovation projects for regional agriculture approved by the European Parliament, focusing on crop diversification, the circular economy and animal welfare. For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “today is an important day for the Azores.” He emphasised that the approval of these initiatives “demonstrates that Azorean agriculture is a vibrant and innovative force that is essential for the sustainable development of the archipelago.” The three projects, representing an overall investment of around €1.6 million, aim to prepare the sector for new food and environmental requirements: As part of the efforts to promote agricultural innovation, the "AZOREAN COCOA" project has been launched. With a budget of €108,000 and an expected lifespan of 24 months, this pilot study will assess the agricultural and economic viability of growing cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in the Region. With the establishment of experimental plots on São Miguel and Terceira, soils, microclimates and costs will be analysed with the aim of paving the way for a new value-added agricultural sector linked to artisanal chocolate and agritourism. In the area of sustainability and the circular economy, the second phase of the “Bio Filtering” project is moving forward, focusing on the processing and reuse of slaughterhouse waste. Representing an estimated investment of €359,000, the initiative will use natural solutions (such as aquatic plants and accelerated vermicomposting) to transform organic waste into high-quality agricultural compost. The project, which can be replicated across the nine islands, is expected to reduce unprocessed organic waste by up to 5,000 tonnes per year by 2027. The third initiative, “CALF FRIENDLY - Happy Calves,” is aimed at dairy farms on the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. This project has a budget of €1.13 million for the 2026–2028 period. The initiative promotes the suckling of calves for up to three months, a single daily milking and the use of biodiverse pastures. It also provides for the creation of Environmental Credits to offset producers and the awarding of the European “Calf Friendly” label. António Ventura noted that these projects represent a clear “European recognition of the diversification of food production” in the Azores, making a direct contribution “to carbon negativity, soil sustainability, zero waste and a circular economy.” The respective documents will now be submitted to the European Commission, where the technical and financial assessment phase will take place. The submission of these proposals to the European Parliament stemmed from the close institutional cooperation with the MEP for the Azores, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, “this proactive approach between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food and MEP Paulo Nascimento Cabral has resulted in a direct benefit for the Azorean people.” It will ensure a path for the sector that is “consumer-focused, more resilient and diversified, and aligned with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.”
