Media and news Regional Government of the Azores - Communication

Nota de Imprensa
April 3, 2025
Governo dos Açores anuncia nova fase de candidaturas ao Sistema de Incentivos à Transição Digital das Empresas 
A Secretaria Regional das Finanças, Planeamento e Administração Pública, através da Direção Regional do Empreendedorismo e Competitividade, anuncia uma nova fase de candidaturas às três linhas de ação do Sistema de Incentivos à Transição Digital das Empresas dos Açores do PRR-Açores. Com esta nova fase de candidaturas, o Governo dos Açores pretende dar uma nova oportunidade ao tecido empresarial açoriano para se candidatar a este sistema de incentivos, reafirmando assim o seu compromisso em apoiar a transição digital das empresas açorianas. As três linhas de apoio disponíveis para candidatura são: - UDE – Upgrade Digital, que consiste na adaptação e integração de tecnologias digitais; - EI – Empresarial Innovate, que permite contratar serviços de consultoria especializada para a implementação de processos de aceleração de negócios; - AAB – Accelerate Azores Brand, que propõe a organização por entidades privadas ou públicas de eventos temáticos, promovendo assim soluções tecnológicas e ferramentas para fomentar e acelerar processos de negócio do tecido empresarial regional. O período de candidaturas decorre até 30 de abril. As empresas interessadas podem obter mais informações em empresas.azores.gov.pt e recuperarportugal.gov.pt.

Comunicado
April 3, 2025
Communiqué from the Council of the Government
The Council of the Government, which met on April 3, 2025, in Velas, São Jorge island, decided to adopt the following measures: 1. Adopt the Resolution approving the transfer of the maximum amount of €5,227,766.00 to the Financing Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries (IFAP) regarding the payment of the "2nd-semester cattle slaughter premium" under the "Animal production premium" measure of the POSEI-Azores sub-programme. This support is intended to fulfil the commitments made by the Regional Government to Azorean farmers. Aligned with the XIV Programme of the Government, the Resolution now approved aims to achieve a sustained increase in farmers' income, progressive local food self-sufficiency in some sectors, especially on the smaller islands more prone to bad weather that could jeopardise their supply, and an end to the apportionments under the said POSEI Programme. 2. Approve the transfer of a maximum amount of €1,238,882.00 to IFAP concerning the payment of aid for the Maintenance of Vineyards for the Production of Wines bearing the Designation of Origin and the Geographical Indication under the POSEI Programme in Portugal for the Region. The allocation of aid for the Maintenance of Vineyards regarding the Production of Wines bearing the Designation of Origin and Geographical Indication is intended to meet the commitments to continue promoting a sustained increase in farmers' income. It also fulfils the commitment to end apportionments, as set out in the Programme of the XIV Government of the Azores. 3. Ratify the signing of the protocol between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport, the municipalities of Velas and Calheta and the Confraria do Queijo de São Jorge (São Jorge Cheese Brotherhood) to register the product's "traditional knowledge and production techniques" as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. 4. Approve the Resolution authorising the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food to grant extraordinary financial support for purchasing fibrous concentrate to feed the Region's livestock. 5. Approve the Resolution authorising the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food to grant extraordinary financial support for purchasing straw, pressed hay and alfalfa to diversify the diet of the Region's livestock. 6. Approve the proposal for a Regional Legislative Decree establishing the Recruitment and Selection Commission for the Regional Public Administration and adapting the Statute for the Management of Central, Regional and Local State Administration Services and Organisations to the Region. This proposal for a Regional Legislative Decree aims to establish a new way of recruiting middle managers, maintaining the application procedure as the form of recruitment. Nevertheless, for these situations, it establishes that it will be carried out by a Recruitment and Selection Commission for the Regional Public Administration on a model similar to the one that exists at a national level for the recruitment of senior managers. This solution has the merit of introducing greater transparency, impartiality, rigour and independence to a procedure intended to select the best profile for a position in the regional public administration. The establishment of an independent commission - an intrinsic feature of this entity's role - ensures that the recruitment of middle managers in the regional public administration is exclusively based on the principles of competence and merit, aligned with the goals set out in the programme of the XIV Government of the Azores. 7. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree establishing the Regional Health Purchasing Centre, through which the Regional Directorate for Health can enter into public procurement contracts to establish conditions for the supply of specific goods and services to the health sector. It will have the possibility of awarding tenders at the request of, and on behalf of, the purchasing entities in the leasing or acquisition of goods or services intended for them. 8. Approve the Resolution authorising the signing of the contract programme with the Association for the Development and Training of the Azores Sea, with a view to ensuring the implementation of the Activity Plan for  2025,  amounting to €262,500.00. 9. Approve the Resolution increasing the amount of the financial contribution granted to SATA - Air Açores for the 2024 operation of the Interjovem Card. The increase is due to the success of the measure and the strong take-up by young Azoreans. 10. Approve the Resolution authorising the signing of a contract programme between the Region and GeoAçores - Azores Geopark Association, amounting to €75,000.00, for the operation of the association, the monitoring, enhancement and promotion of geosites.  It will also cover the dissemination and training in the geodiversity of the Azores, and ensure the commitments to the Global Network and the European Geoparks Network.

Nota de Imprensa
April 3, 2025
Artur Lima attends 165th plenary session of European Committee of the Regions
The Vice-President of the Government participated in the 165th plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which took place in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday and today. During the two-day work, topics of interest to the Autonomous Region of the Azores were discussed, such as the competitiveness of the European agricultural sector and the European Oceans Pact, the latter being prepared by the European Commission. Cohesion Policy was also addressed, with the presence of the European Commission's Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto. According to the Vice-President of the Regional Government, it is essential to "fight for the sustainability, resilience and competitiveness of agriculture with the European institutions in a sector of crucial importance for the vitality and economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Azores." The European Oceans Pact will define a general framework for all European policies concerning the ocean. "Sustainable marine economic development is essential for the local, regional, European and global future," stated Artur Lima. The economy of the sea is "one of the region's promising new axes of development, in terms of transport, fishing, tourism, world-class marine research and other emerging activities," stated the Vice-President. Therefore, the "policies resulting from the Oceans Pact must consider the centrality and dependence of this sector in Outermost Regions (ORs) in all their aspects and with due recognition of their unique features," continued Artur Lima. He recalled that the "Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Outermost Regions account for more than half of the EEZ of the European Union." At a time when there are proposals from the European Commission to change the European Social Fund (ESF+) and allocate other existing Cohesion Policy funds to the Defence sector, the Vice-President of the Government stressed that the Azores "are Europe's main Atlantic border and are great strategic interest to the European Union in various areas, as indeed are all Outermost Regions." In this regard, he defended that "this undeniable reality must be taken into serious consideration by the Commission now and in the future." Also, regarding the future of Cohesion, Artur Lima warned of the "lack of clarification on the regional and local role in its programming, implementation and management." The European Committee of the Regions is an advisory body to the European Union that meets up to six times a year in assembly with 329 local and regional members from all member states. The 166th plenary session is scheduled for May 14 and 15.

Nota de Imprensa
April 3, 2025
President of the Government visited São Jorge transversal road improvement works
On Wednesday, the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, as part of the statutory visit to São Jorge, visited the work to improve the regional road linking the north coast to the south coast of the island, having learned about the progress of the work. The road is budgeted at eight million Euros under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). This work is intended to increase road safety and provide greater comfort for road users, reducing distances and travel times to the ports and the airport, which are located on the south coast. The work, to be carried out by Tecnovia, will reduce fuel consumption following the improved traffic conditions and geometric features of the road. The work was awarded in April 2024 and has a completion time of 730 days.

Nota de Imprensa
April 3, 2025
Regional Government wants UNESCO recognition for São Jorge cheese
On Tuesday, the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, presided over the signing of a protocol with the Confraria do Queijo de São Jorge (brotherhood formed to promote São Jorge cheese) and the island's two municipalities - Velas and Calheta - to register the product's "traditional knowledge and production techniques" as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. "We are taking a crucial step. It is a step that takes the quality and excellence of São Jorge cheese as its precedent, and the talent acquired over 500 years to transform high-quality milk into very high-quality cheese," he highlighted.  The ceremony was part of the second day of the Regional Government's three-day statutory visit to the island of São Jorge. The Regional Secretary for Agriculture, António Ventura, and the Regional Secretary for Education, Sofia Ribeiro, signed the protocol. "This product is made from the talent and identity of a people and a territory. It has a quality and excellence that competes with the best in the world. It is promoting the country," stated the President of the Government. He added that "our path and goal is to be recognised worldwide by UNESCO." On the occasion, José Manuel Bolieiro also called for the active work of the National Government on this matter.  José Manuel Bolieiro also urged the National Government to take action on the matter. The head of the brotherhood, António Azevedo, stated that the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will be enthroned as a member later this month, recognising that a UNESCO distinction would represent "added value" for São Jorge and the Azores. The Azorean Government ends its statutory visit to the island today.

Nota de Imprensa
April 2, 2025
"We are developing the Azorean territory fairly," stresses José Manuel Bolieiro
The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, stressed today that his Government is "developing the territory fairly," ensuring that there is "no such thing as first-class citizens or second-class citizens," but rather a political project in which everyone matters. "This governance looks at people not as figures but as having the same dignity in the same area of our territory on any of our islands," he said. José Manuel Bolieiro spoke in the municipality of Calheta, São Jorge, during a visit to the construction site of the Santo Antão Intergenerational Centre. "We are estimating co-financing of about four million Euros," he said, adding that this project “will benefit children and the elderly.” The work materialises a long-awaited response that meets the residents' needs. It will also serve as a stimulus for young families to settle, mitigating the demographic loss felt in that part of the island. The new building will have a capacity for 30 children in the daycare centre, 20 in the Leisure Activities Centre, the same number in the kindergarten, 40 users in the home support service and 20 in the day centre. The project presentation was part of the second day of the Regional Government's three-day statutory visit to the island of São Jorge.

Nota de Imprensa
April 2, 2025
Farol Agricultural Road is "old ambition" that will promote São Jorge and the Azores, stresses José Manuel Bolieiro
The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, stressed today that the Farol Agricultural Road, whose project was presented today in Velas, represents an "old ambition" of residents that will project not only São Jorge but the entire Region. "The Azores are not an abstract concept; they are a reality. Each island counts and must be optimised. We need to have a strategy and define responsibilities," he emphasised at a session that also included the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, António Ventura, the President of IROA S.A., Pedro Hintze Ribeiro, and the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira. This road will serve "not only for farming but also for tourism," representing a "project that will promote the territory." The road stretches for about four kilometres and involves an investment of 1.95 million Euros, plus VAT, with 85% Community funding and 15% from the Regional Budget. "My greatest satisfaction is that today we understand the future through planning. Valuing the territory is a mission that the Government and mayors must always pursue as a strategic goal," continued José Manuel Bolieiro. The project presentation marked the beginning of the second of the three-day Regional Government's statutory visit to the island of São Jorge.

Nota de Imprensa
April 2, 2025
Regional Government reinforces modernisation of São Jorge Island Vocational School
The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, visited today the São Jorge Island Vocational School (EPISJ), as part of the modernisation of its equipment under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The investment in this vocational education establishment reflects the Government's commitment to strengthening the quality of vocational education in the Region and guaranteeing students better learning conditions. EPISJ currently has 124 trainees on seven vocational courses: three classes of the Vehicle Mechatronics Technician, three in Agricultural Production and one in Education Assistant. The school has established protocols with Cape Verde to facilitate the integration of students from that country, reinforcing international cooperation and promoting cultural diversity in vocational training in the Azores. Since the 2011/2012 school year, the school has been running two vocational courses annually. From 2024/2025 it will provide three courses, a measure aligned with the Regional Government's strategy of reducing competition between regular schools and vocational schools amid a decline in the number of students in the regional education system. The modernisation of EPISJ included purchasing new equipment, namely a new computer network, equipment for the Vehicle Mechatronics course and infrastructures for the Agricultural courses, such as two greenhouses and an irrigation system.  This investment, totalling 225,560.64 Euros, has already seen 215,048.70 Euros implemented, thus promoting a qualitative leap in students' technical and practical training. In the regional context, the 16 Azorean Vocational Schools also benefited from this modernisation programme, with an overall investment of 2.9 million Euros, including 410 thousand Euros borne by the Region to cover VAT.  This measure was a pioneering initiative in the Azores so that no vocational school would miss out on these fundamental investments to meet the digitalisation challenges, distance learning and adaptation to the labour market demands. "In the Azores, we were pioneers when, in June 2023, we decided that the Region would bear the VAT so that no vocational school would miss out on this opportunity," stressed José Manuel Bolieiro. The head of the Regional Government also emphasised the importance of vocational education for the future of the Azores.  "We are promoting the belief in empowered self-esteem regarding Vocational Education with these investments and the Government's recognition of the importance of this specialised education for the Region's future," he said.  In addition, José Manuel Bolieiro emphasised that EPISJ has been improving its teaching and learning conditions, offering students a more up-to-date and better-equipped space.  The Regional Government intends to continue valuing vocational education with schools and social partners. It will also continue reducing bureaucracy and streamlining procedures in vocational education and training, investing heavily in new technologies as a factor of difference and quality.