Artur Lima defends "mature and dynamic autonomy" to face social challenges in the Azores - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, defended today at the Assembly of Corsica the need for a ‘mature and dynamic Autonomy’ to face the social and economic challenges of the Azorean islands, also stressing the importance of "State Solidarity" that must "honour its commitments."

"It is still up to the self-government bodies of autonomous regions to endeavour to deal with their insularity, remoteness and geographical distance from the country. As such, they can develop practical solutions to improve access to health care, reverse the course of social and education indicators, improve air mobility for residents, strengthen social protection, prevent emigration and depopulation, and boost private economic activity," he said.

He continued: "Only a mature and dynamic Autonomy, which relies on State solidarity, will be able to present solutions to the challenges and constraints that insist on affecting our economic and social development."

Artur Lima spoke today at the Corsican Committee on Legislative and Regulatory Powers and Statutory Evolution, where he addressed the challenges of regional autonomy in the Azores and the evolution of the Region's Political-Administrative Statute.

According to Artur Lima, although the Azores are "directly responsible for their development," the State will "always have to honour its commitments, fulfilling its sovereign functions and the principle of national solidarity" in areas such as air mobility, social security or the submarine cables.

"Autonomy cannot be translated into a lack of responsibility on the part of the State," he emphasised.

Listing challenges such as the fight against poverty and social exclusion, shared management of the sea, making full use of the archipelago's geostrategic potential or recovering the competitiveness of sectors such as agriculture or fisheries, Artur Lima stressed that these matters "must continue to receive political attention."

Furthermore, Artur Lima warned of the "lack of electoral participation by Azorean citizens," defending that "autonomic democracy should be endowed with voting mechanisms for emigrants and Azoreans displaced from the archipelago, in addition to ensuring the implementation of "educational tool to raise awareness of the importance of regional Autonomy."

Special emphasis was placed on strengthening the Azorean voice in the country's and Europe's decision-making forums. In this regard, the Vice-President of the Government defended the creation of a constituency for the European Parliament and the constitutional establishment of the possibility for the Presidents of Regional Governments to attend meetings of the Council of Ministers when matters concerning the Autonomous Regions are discussed.

In his speech, the Vice-President of the Government also emphasised the historical importance of Autonomy and its link to the distinct identity of the Azorean people, a subject developed by Vitorino Nemésio, who coined the term "Azoreanity."

Artur Lima pointed out the political evolution of the Autonomous Region of the Azores from the establishment of the democratic regime in Portugal to the enshrinement of its Statute.

Regarding the Political-Administrative Statute, he mentioned that it has undergone several revisions over the years, culminating in the last one in 2009. The latter defined the fundamental goals of Autonomy, such as the balanced development of all the islands and the consolidation of European integration.