Media and news Regional Government of the Azores - Communication

Nota de Imprensa
April 11, 2025
Adjudicação da obra de estabilização e proteção marítima do Porto de Santa Iria está para breve
A Secretária Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas, Berta Cabral, anunciou hoje que a adjudicação da empreitada de reabilitação e proteção marítima do Porto de Santa Iria, na ilha de São Miguel, está para breve. Berta Cabral, que falava na sequência das derrocadas ocorridas na zona onde se situa este porto, referiu que o mesmo “aguarda intervenção há dezenas de anos e, por isso mesmo, tem estado interdito. Só o compromisso assumido há mais de um ano pelo Governo dos Açores levou a que se passasse das palavras aos atos”. “A empreitada de reabilitação e proteção marítima do Porto de Santa Iria deverá ser adjudicada em breve. Lançámos um primeiro concurso ao qual foram apresentadas duas propostas, mas que acabaram por ser excluídas por não corresponderem ao caderno de encargos. Depois, a nossa Secretaria, através da Direção Regional das Obras Públicas, lançou um novo concurso que se encontra já na fase final de adjudicação. Estamos a proceder a expropriações, após o que segue para visto do Tribunal de Contas”, disse. Segundo Berta Cabral, a expectativa é iniciar a obra no segundo semestre deste ano. Recorde-se que a empreitada em questão representa um investimento global de 5.626.000,00 € (IVA incluído), e visa a reabilitação e proteção marítima deste porto situado na freguesia da Ribeirinha, concelho da Ribeira Grande. Com esta obra, referiu a governante, “pretende-se promover condições de segurança na zona do Porto de Santa Iria, através da estabilização das arribas contíguas à estrada regional de acesso ao porto, mitigando o risco geotécnico para pessoas e bens, tanto na via de acesso ao porto como na zona do solário, através da instalação de elementos de suporte com características adaptadas à exposição ambiental local e de baixo impacto visual”. Paralelamente, adiantou, esta empreitada “visa garantir a proteção costeira contra a ação direta da agitação marítima, tanto no setor norte como no setor sul da infraestrutura portuária, bem como salvaguardar e preservar o património construído no Porto de Santa Iria”. A intervenção prevista para aquele porto consiste na desmatação e decapagem das arribas, para a implementação de uma solução de estabilização assente em pregagens e redes metálicas, numa área de cerca de 27.000m2, assim como a construção de órgãos de drenagem de águas pluviais. Prevista está também a requalificação da via de acesso ao porto, incluindo a pavimentação, a construção de muros e a sinalização do arruamento, e a execução de proteções marítimas e a requalificação geral do porto, incluindo a preservação do património construído. “Garantir a proteção costeira contra a ação direta da agitação marítima, tanto no setor norte como no setor sul da infraestrutura portuária, e salvaguardar e preservar o património construído no porto de Santa Iria são pontos essenciais nesta obra de grande envergadura”, concluiu, lamentando as derrocadas ocorridas no local.

Nota de Imprensa
April 11, 2025
Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries warns of serious consequences of socialist proposal to amend RAMPA
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries is deeply concerned about the proposal presented by the Socialist Party (PS) to amend the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA), allowing tuna fishing using pole-and-line gear in fully protected areas. Although this measure involves fishing gear traditionally recognised for its sustainability and selectivity, it represents a significant step backwards in the Region's commitments to safeguarding marine conservation. RAMPA was created based on the criteria set out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to meet the targets of the World Biodiversity Framework, the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the National Strategy for the Sea 2030. These include the legal protection of 30% of waters under national jurisdiction, including at least 10% fully protected.  According to the IUCN, fully protected areas are incompatible with extractive activities, including commercial tuna pole-and-line fishing. As such, the proposed reclassification directly jeopardises RAMPA's alignment with international standards, making it incompatible with national and regional environmental commitments. The proposal is based on assumptions conflicting with existing scientific evidence. Although pole-and-line fishing is selective, removing biomass in nature reserves has significant ecological impacts, affecting the trophic web and the balance of ecosystems. Scientific studies emphasise that tuna species, although migratory, play a relevant ecological role in seamounts. Their protection is, therefore, essential to ensure the sustainability of fishing and the preservation of marine ecosystems. From a social and economic standpoint, the impacts of RAMPA on the pole-and-line fleet were duly analysed using data from the MONICAP monitoring system, according to the methodology of the OKEANOS Institute's "Blue Paper" report (2019), which served as the scientific basis for the creation of RAMPA.  For this study, the Regional Government provided all the data available from the Region in its possession. The conclusions point to an estimated impact of only 7% on the activity of the pole-and-line fleet, located mainly on four fishing grounds (Formigas, Princesa Alice, D. João de Castro and Condor), totalling around 1,522 km² - a marginal area compared to the more than 160,000 km² currently classified as fully protected, which are now under threat. It should also be noted that the Environmental Fund already provides to offset financial losses to the shipowners affected, with an initial amount of 1.5 million Euros, covering the first three months of RAMPA's implementation. The overall compensation mechanism and its duration have yet to be agreed upon, as the calculation formulas and eligibility criteria are being defined in collaboration with the University of the Azores. A potential reclassification of RAMPA, with the consequent non-compliance with international targets, would jeopardise this support mechanism - essential for the other regional fleet segments- which will continue to be impacted by the new protected areas. Additionally, RAMPA has been allocated 10 million Euros under the Blue Azores programme for its implementation, monitoring and support for the sustainable transition of the fisheries sector. Reclassifying protected areas may jeopardise essential financial support, negatively impacting both the environment and the local economy. Furthermore, the socialist proposal may raise constitutionality issues, as it clashes with the principle of environmental protection enshrined in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. The balance between this principle and economic rights must respect the harmony between fundamental values, with environmental protection being a legal and statutory priority. It should be noted that the technical note from the services of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores warns that an unjustified reduction in the level of environmental protection already achieved constitutes a violation of the principle of non-retrogression, as a densifier of the principle of a relatively high protection level.  The proposed amendment could weaken the institutional position of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the shared management of the sea, with legal and political repercussions at a national and international level. The Azores have been widely recognised as an example of leadership in marine protection at a global level. RAMPA has been studied internationally as a reference model and its reclassification would seriously jeopardise the Region's reputation, with potential losses in terms of credibility, financial support and economic impact. The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries reiterates its commitment to economic and ecological sustainability and calls for a responsible decision that preserves the future of the Azores Sea and its leading position in ocean conservation.

Nota de Imprensa
April 10, 2025
Horta Hospital first to integrate mySaúde Azores
The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, announced today that the Horta Hospital has been integrated into the mySaúde Azores project. The features of the mySaúde Açores application and portal were, until now, exclusively applicable to health centres. As of today, Horta Hospital users will have access to the consultations scheduled at that hospital, synchronise with their mobile phone calendar and request attendance statements. The scheduling of complementary diagnostic and therapeutic tests will soon be available. The entry of the first hospital into mySaúde Açores is a key milestone in the project, which is part of a wide-ranging plan to modernise the Regional Health Service. Mónica Seidi praised "everyone's commitment to contributing to the constant improvement of the application, which already registers more than 10 thousand Azoreans since it was launched in January this year, and more than 77 thousand hits." With this new integration, the Regional Secretary expects even more users to register and benefit from this application, bringing the number of users to 92 thousand, with about 11 thousand future consultations. Appointment requests, teleconsultations and easy access to users' administrative data were the features initially introduced in Primary Health Care. In less than three months since the initial launch, new features have become available to users, including attendance statements, requests to renew chronic prescriptions and the synchronisation of appointments with the mobile phone calendar. There is also the possibility of having more than one user associated with a telephone number, making it possible to manage more than one account, including, for example, minors in the user's care or elderly relatives. The history of appointments will also be available from January 1, 2024. This project, which has Siemens Healthineers as a partner, falls within the Digital Hospital, a project funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). Its main goal is to make access to health care more convenient and easier for all Regional Health Service users.

Nota de Imprensa
April 10, 2025
José Manuel Bolieiro defends new European measures to guarantee development of Outermost Regions
The President of the Regional Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, participated this week in the 29th Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions, which took place on April 7 and 8 on the island of Réunion. The future of the European Union's cohesion policies and the following financial framework for the Outermost Regions were at the heart of the conference. At the closing session, the head of the Azorean Government gave a clear warning - in a context of global and European uncertainty, the Cohesion Policy must remain one of the pillars of European integration. "Without a strong territorial policy, our regions are in danger of being left behind," he said, pointing out that Outermost Regions are more than distant territories - "they are bridges between continents, cultures and markets." The presence of the Vice-President of the European Commission,  Raffaele Fitto, was welcomed as a positive sign of Europe's commitment to these regions. José Manuel Bolieiro also highlighted the role of the European Commission and Member States in supporting the specific characteristics of Outermost Regions, calling for joint action in defence of their interests. Among the proposals put forward by the President of the Regional Government is the creation of a POSEI-Transport programme to respond to the structural mobility challenges in Outermost Regions, particularly in the Azores, where the dual effects of remoteness and adverse weather conditions continue to hinder the movement of people and goods. The proposal follows a recent study by the European Parliament that points to the risk of worsening "mobility poverty" in these regions, given the new environmental requirements and the increase in operating costs. As for agriculture, José Manuel Bolieiro defended the increase of the POSEI Agriculture budget, considering that agriculture continues to be "the heart of the Azorean communities" and a key pillar for food sovereignty and the economic development of Outermost Regions. The fisheries sector was also emphasised, with a call for the reactivation of POSEI-Fisheries and the renewal of fleets, with full funding from the European Union. He also emphasised the importance of investing in emerging areas such as the blue economy, marine biotechnology, renewable energy sources and the digital transition, advocating a clear commitment to modern digital infrastructures, including a more secure and resilient submarine cable network. "Connectivity is not a luxury, it is rather a necessity," he said. The conference ended with the customary handover ceremony, with the presidency of the Conference of the Outermost Regions now passing from Réunion to Guadeloupe. José Manuel Bolieiro congratulated the new presidency and offered words of "recognition" for the work carried out by the host region, which he described as "remarkable,"  especially in a context of unexpected challenges. In a speech characterised by firmness and strategic vision, José Manuel Bolieiro reiterated the Azores' commitment to a fairer, more cohesive and united Europe. "The future of the European Union is also at stake in its most distant regions," he concluded.

Nota de Imprensa
April 10, 2025
Social Service organisations from the Azores and Diaspora meet in Ponta Delgada on Monday
The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, is organising an International Seminar for Social Service Organisations from the Azores and the Diaspora next Monday, April 14, at the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory auditorium in Ponta Delgada. With this meeting, the Azorean Government intends to reactivate and boost the International Network of Social Organisations in the United States of America, Canada and Bermuda, with which the Regional Directorate for the Communities maintains annual financial cooperation protocols. They are intended to strengthen transatlantic collaboration for the benefit of the Azorean communities in North America. This initiative brings together representatives of various institutions working in social intervention with the Azorean communities in the United States of America, Canada, Bermuda and the Autonomous Region of the Azores to support the integration of Azorean emigrants and returned emigrants. The international seminar is open to the general public and aims to share the work carried out by the different organisations. Its sessions are broadcast directly on the "Azorean Communities" page on Facebook and the Regional Government YouTube channel. The work begins at 10 a.m. with a first panel dedicated to "Social Service Organisations in the Autonomous Region of the Azores." It will feature the following participants: Telma Silva, from the Regional Directorate for the Communities, Tânica Fonseca, from ISSA - Institute for Social Security of the Azores, Andrea Moniz de Sousa, from the Association of Azorean Emigrants, Emanuela Braga, from APAV - Portuguese Association for Victim Support, Suzete Frias, from ARRISCA - Regional Association for Rehabilitation and Socio-Cultural Integration of the Azores, Paulo Braga, from Instituto São João de Deus / Casa de Saúde de São Miguel (mental institution), and Helder Fernandes, from NOVO DIA - Association for Social Inclusion. The work resumes at 2:30 p.m., with a second panel on "Social Service Organisations in the United States of America." It will feature the following speakers:  Rui Rosa, from Catholic Social Services (Fall River, Massachusetts), Helena Hughes, from the Immigrants Assistance Center (New Bedford, Massachusetts), Paulo Pinto, from MAPS - Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (Cambridge, Massachusetts), Elsa Oliveira, from POSSO - Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (San Jose, California), Cristina Raposo, from SER Jobs for Progress (Fall River, Massachusetts), and Elmano Rosa, from VALER - Valley Area Living Enabling Resources (Turlock, California- VALER ). The third and final panel of the seminar, scheduled for 4 p.m., will focus on "Social Service Organisations in Canada and Bermuda" and will feature speeches by Marília dos Santos, from the Abrigo Centre (Toronto, Ontario), Anabela Nunes, from the Working Women Community Centre (Toronto, Ontario), Adélia Ferreira, from the Centre for Socio-Community Action of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec), Nance Martins, from the Luso Canadian Charitable Society (Hamilton, Ontario), and Richard Ambrósio, from the Vasco da Gama Club (Bermuda). The three panels will be followed by debates moderated by the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade. The following day, April 15, the association leaders will visit the  Emergency Shelter Centre (Drop-in) of NOVO DIA - Association for Social Inclusion and the Cáritas Unit on the island of São Miguel. In the afternoon, there will be an internal meeting of the International Network of Social Service Organisations in the Azores and the Diaspora, involving the participation of the entities represented at the seminar, which will be held in the training room of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory. The sessions address the prospects for social support for Azorean emigrants in North America and emigrants returning/deported to the Region. This meeting, chaired by the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, will also be attended by the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade, and the coordinator of the International Network of Social Service Organisations in the Azores and the Diaspora, Telma Silva. The mission of the international network of social service organisations is to encourage cooperation and coordination between institutions in various countries under the coordination of the Regional Directorate for the Communities. It brings together associations and/or other organisations involved in social activities with the Azorean communities in the United States of America, Canada and Bermuda. Acknowledging the relevant role played by these organisations, the Regional Government of the Azores has promoted support for their activities, through annual financial cooperation protocols, promoting the integration and well-being of the Azorean communities, not only in the regions where they have emigrated but also in their homeland upon their return. 

Nota de Imprensa
April 9, 2025
Berta Cabral defends that Government and Horta City Council are taking "leap forward for future" of Faial
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures stated today in Horta that the Government and municipalities must be increasingly ambitious in the works they promote and carry out to continue creating conditions to improve the population's quality of life. Berta Cabral spoke on behalf of the President of the Government  at the ceremony of laying the first stone for the works to upgrade the Algar-Courelas road on the island of Faial. This work and the Horta bypass will contribute to "a leap forward for the city and the island of Faial." She explained: "This work has been awaited for 45 years and the bypass for over 30 years. We - the Government and the City Council - are taking a leap forward for the future by several decades and this is what we are here for." She recalled the various works carried out by the Government on Faial Island, highlighting the construction of the bypass, the improvement of services at Horta Hospital, the creation of university residences, the solution for the Sal Brum housing, the Martec project and many other investments in various areas. They will "bring a new dimension and development to this island, contributing to Faial's oceanic centrality." "We are promoting the decentralised resolution of the problems of each of our islands, municipalities and parishes," stated Berta Cabral. She stressed: "We are very honoured and proud of the work we have been doing with local authorities. With everyone working together, we multiply efforts and produce a multiplier effect with significant results for people." As she said, "mayors have so many difficulties and problems to manage daily that they often put structuring works on the back burner." "However, we are now dealing with a structuring project, the largest investment ever made by the Horta City Council in the road network," she continued. Berta Cabral also highlighted the cooperation between the Azorean Government and the municipality of Horta, namely the signing of ARAAL contracts to implement investments to provide people with a better quality of life: "We are solving people's problems through a proximity-based policy." This work represents an investment of 3.29 million Euros, plus VAT at the legal rate in force. It includes the resurfacing of the pavement, the construction of retaining walls where necessary for safety reasons, the upgrading of thoroughfares with a minimum width of five metres, the redesign of the Algar/Courelas/Lameiro Grande/Cruz da Portela junction, through the construction of a roundabout, the creation of a cycle lane and the installation of electric charging points for both cars and bicycles. Additionally,  improvements will be made to the water supply and rainwater drainage network, thus improving the quality of the water supplied to the population and increasing the flow rate in the supply to the business sector. This road directly serves the parishes of Angústias, Feteira and Flamengos, three of the most populated on the island of Faial. It is an alternative to the bypass.

Nota de Imprensa
April 9, 2025
José Manuel Bolieiro defends strengthening European cohesion for Outermost Regions
The President of the Azorean Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, took part this Tuesday in the 29th Conference of the Presidents of the Outermost Regions of the European Union, which took place in Saint-Denis on the island of Réunion. He made an urgent call: "The European Union needs to look at these regions with more attention, more sensitivity, and more political and financial commitment." José Manuel Bolieiro underlined the Outermost Region's geostrategic role and recalled that, despite their geographical distance, these regions are "bridges between continents, cultures and markets." He also warned of the dangers of a European funding model which, in his view, has been, again, centralising decisions and ignoring local realities. "We cannot accept a model that sidelines our regions. Territorial cohesion is non-negotiable," he said. At a time marked by global instability - conflicts, geopolitical tensions, inflation and environmental pressures - the head of the Azorean Government defended that Outermost Regions should have an active voice in redefining the European Union's priorities, particularly in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. "This is an opportunity to consolidate cohesion as a pillar of European integration. Cohesion policy is essential for our development and territorial justice," he said, adding that "Europe plays much of its future in its most distant regions." Among the specific proposals put forward, José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the creation of a POSEI-Transport programme to ensure more efficient and accessible air and sea connections. The President of the Government also took the opportunity to stress the importance of the traditional sectors of the regional economy, calling for an increase in the POSEI-Agriculture budget and the reactivation of POSEI-Fisheries. He also warned of the need to modernise fishing fleets with EU funding, thus avoiding disparities between regions. "Agriculture and fishing are much more than economic sectors. They are the heart of our communities, our culture, our livelihood," he emphasised. The energy and digital transitions were not left out either: the President of the Azorean Government defended, in these fields, a strong commitment to new emerging economies - such as the blue economy, marine biotechnology and renewable energy sources - and once again emphasised the urgency of improving digital connectivity. "Distance can no longer be an obstacle. We need more secure and efficient digital networks. As Ursula von der Leyen said, no one should be left behind - and we take that very seriously," he said. At the end of the conference, a joint declaration was signed by the nine Outermost Regions, emphasising the need to maintain the principle of "no detriment to cohesion" in all European policies. The document clearly states that the Outermost Regions demand specific treatment in the next financial framework, with more flexibility, more investment in transport, agriculture, competitiveness and affordable housing, in addition to specific measures to respond to immigration and climate change. José Manuel Bolieiro concluded his speech by expressing gratitude to Réunion, who is now stepping down from its presidency of the Conference, and wished the new presidency, now held by Guadalupe, every success. "The success of each of our presidencies is the success of all of them. Only with unity and determination will we continue to raise our voice in Europe," he declared. In a call to action, he highlighted: "Our message is clear: we are not asking for privileges, we are asking for justice. There can be no cohesion in Europe without its outermost regions."

Nota de Imprensa
April 9, 2025
Regional Government invested 25.6 million Euros in port equipment and 92.5 million Euros in port infrastructures over last four years
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures defended today at the Regional Legislative Assembly that the Azorean Government is determined to create a "more efficient, reliable and predictable" maritime freight transport system, with more than 168 million in investments already completed and underway in regional ports since 2020. Berta Cabral spoke in the city of Horta. She noted that the pace of port equipment purchases has increased significantly since December 2020 to improve port operations and efficiency. Equipment amounting to 25.6 million Euros has already been purchased and investments totalling a further 13 million Euros are planned until 2027. "In the last four years, we have already done more than we did in the previous 10 years," she concluded. The Regional Secretary also emphasised that the maritime transport system "is crucial to the livelihood of the islands and critical to the viability of the Azorean economy." He added that, since 2020, the Regional Government has been working to strengthen the maritime transport system and promote greater integration between the islands, improving the mobility of citizens and the transport of goods. The government official explained that the inefficiencies in the logistics system have been going on for more than three decades but have been intensified by natural phenomena and factors beyond the Regional Administration's control. She mentioned, as an example, the first 90 days of this year when the Azores had 48 days under yellow and orange weather alerts for hazardous sea conditions, a situation that conditioned maritime operations. In addition, the "constraints due to the capacity of maritime terminals on the mainland delay the loading and departure of ships as well as other logistical, operational and legal issues," she said.  She recalled: "Whenever there are situations when the scheduled times are not being met without explanation, we request the formal intervention of the IMT (Institute for Mobility and Transport) and the AMT (Mobility and Transport Authority). We also question shipowners directly," and a working group (Regional Directorate for Mobility and IMT) has been set up to monitor and report abnormal situations. The Regional Government also pointed out the growth of the economy and commercial activity in the Region as synonymous with "greater pressure on the logistics system and new challenges in its management." "We have seen a significant increase in cargo handling in our ports, which exceeded 2.7 million tonnes in 2024. This is a growth of about 7% compared to 2023 and more than 15% compared to 2019, demonstrating the success of the Region's economic activity," she said. She continued: "For all this, we have significantly increased the pace of port equipment purchases, investing 25.6 million Euros since December 2020 compared to 8.2 million Euros between 2016 and 2020." In terms of port infrastructures, Berta Cabral highlighted the completion of investments amounting to 92.5 million Euros, with a further 50.3 million Euros still underway, not including the new Lajes das Flores Port. "We found port infrastructures destroyed by Hurricane Lorenzo and others in a poor condition. We were surprised by port equipment that had fallen into oblivion, including cranes that were more than 20 years old, without minimum operating conditions and no coordinated plan for their replacement," she emphasised. One of the measures adopted by the Regional Government that Berta Cabral considers crucial is the allocation of two vessels (THOR B and Margarethe) to supply the islands of Corvo and Flores. The Regional Secretary also mentioned the study on the maritime freight transport model in the Region, which made clear the need for a rational change that guarantees greater reliability, frequency and predictability. "Among the three scenarios proposed in the study for optimising the model, without prejudice to future developments, the intention is to promote the mixed model. This envisages five vessels with a 14-day rotation and two express vessels with a seven-day rotation, guaranteeing a weekly supply service to all the islands," she added. Berta Cabral stated that after extensive joint work involving shipowners, chambers of commerce and local traffic, "joint solutions were found with the shipowners and the Regional Port Authorities, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to guarantee predictability and reliability for the weekly calls at Santa Maria and Graciosa." Believing "the true transformation of the maritime freight transport system requires a joint effort and collaborative action between the various stakeholders," the government official stressed that "it is essential that shipowners, the Regional Port Authorities, freight forwarders, trade unions and other agents in the logistics chain interact in a constructive and value-creating process for the common good and the regional economy." The possible revision of the legal scheme applicable to local traffic, namely public service obligations, and the insistence, with the European Commission, on the former pretence of creating a POSEI Transport and the respective financial allocation at a Community level are instruments that she considered crucial. Meanwhile, Berta Cabral took the opportunity to point out that, as far as passenger transport was concerned, the Government "financially recovered Atlânticoline, which was in an unsustainable situation. It adopted difficult measures that counteracted wasteful spending and brought greater rationality to public spending, even in the face of those who deny the evidence and the reports and recommendations of the Court of Auditors."