Union of the Azores is not abstract idea and represents governing axis, highlights Paulo Estêvão - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, emphasised today that the union of the Azores "is not an abstract idea or an occasional banner." It is rather "a pillar of governance and a daily practice" of the Regional Government, as it pursues an "unwavering commitment to territorial justice, social solidarity and economic integration" among the nine islands.

“In an archipelago like ours, with deeply asymmetrical populations and economies, regional harmony is neither a luxury nor a second-rate option. It is what prevents autonomy from fragmenting into nine disconnected realities. It is the foundation stone of our regional unity — achieved 49 years ago — and the foundation of our political autonomy, enshrined since 1976," stated the government official. 

Paulo Estêvão spoke at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores during a debate on the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Region.

“For this Government, economic, social and territorial cohesion is not just a European concept — although it is that too, and very much so — but is, above all, an Azorean response to geography, distance and inequality. For us, this interconnection means ensuring that an Azorean in Corvo has the same rights, the same dignity and the same opportunities as an Azorean in São Miguel.
It means ensuring that the market is common, services are universal, and the costs of remoteness do not fall unfairly on those who live on the most peripheral islands or municipalities,” continued the Regional Secretary.

Regarding accessibility, "the backbone of any territorial balance policy," the government official recalled the implementation of the Azores Fare, which fostered inter-island mobility.

“At 60 Euros per trip, families were reunited, students returned home, and professionals resumed their travels. We transformed the archipelago into a closer, more united and more vibrant network,” he said.

Paulo Estêvão also recalled several "specific responses to shortcomings" provided by coalition governments.

He added: “When the island of Corvo was isolated for 50 days, this Government chartered the vessel Thor. And it was not a symbolic gesture: it was the difference between scarcity and supply. We did the same with the link to Flores, using the vessel Margareth. For us, cohesion policy takes the shape of a vessel.”

In the economic sphere, specific increases were applied to public support for the most vulnerable islands as a way of actively remedying asymmetries.

“We guarantee that the 2030 Programme has projects implemented on all islands, without any kind of discrimination. The decentralisation of investment is not just a statement in this Government — it is a proven reality. This Government does not close schools, does not disinvest in health centres, and does not give up on public facilities that make life viable on the smaller islands and in the most peripheral municipalities and parishes. Our social strength is built on involvement, people and resources,” defended the Regional Secretary.

As for the social area, the data is"clear," he said. 

He explained: "Since 2021, the Regional Pension Supplement has increased by 30% in 2024 and 2025. And it was not just the amount: It was the number of beneficiaries that increased substantially. The same applies to Compamid, the Special Supplement for Oncological Patients (CEDO), the Azorean family allowance supplement for children and young people (CAAF), the daily support for displaced patients and the respective accompanying persons and the "Birth Plus" programme. No Azorean, on any island, has been forgotten. What we have done in four years, in the context of a pandemic and under financial restrictions caused by previous governance, has been geared towards building a regional protection network that addresses long-standing inequalities. A network that acknowledges the value of proximity, remoteness and solidarity between generations."

After listing the coalition's investments on the nine islands of the Azores, Paulo Estêvão defended that the Azores "are not homogeneous."

"There are nine of them. They are different. They are unequal. For this reason, they need asymmetrical and differentiated policies to guarantee a solid and consistent connection. This Government does not solely defend regional cohesion - it puts it into practice every day," he declared.

He concluded: "The history of the Azores is the history of a people who refused to be peripheral. A people who demanded to have their voice heard. A people who built the future with their own hands. As such, the greatest tribute we can pay to our history is to continue to look after our unity - with vessels, aircraft, schools, hospitals, fair prices and equal opportunities."