Speech by the President of the Government - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

Full text of the speech delivered today in Brussels by the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, at the Public Hearing on "Enhancing Cohesion Policy for Outermost Regions and Islands: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities Post-2027," as part of the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development:

“I would like to thank the Chair of the REGI Committee, MEP Dragos Benea, for this opportunity that the European Parliament is giving to the regions to be heard, in this case, the outermost regions of the European Union.

I congratulate the REGI Committee for its dynamic mobilisation.

Institutional dialogue has been the most effective political mechanism in the construction of the European Union.

We are always open to such dialogue. This is because the Azores value their membership in the European Union.

It is a Union of values and principles — peace, cohesion, prosperity.

European values for everyone and everybody.

The values are enshrined in the Treaties that give rise to the defence and promotion of our common interest, with added value for the European Project.

The European Union was founded in the name of peace and has always recognised, throughout its history, the importance of territorial cohesion as a fundamental principle in the development of sectoral policies.

The Azores are an island region comprising nine islands, stretching 600 km from Santa Maria to Corvo, at the crossroads between Europe and the Americas, giving them considerable geostrategic importance. They lie at the intersection of three tectonic plates: the North American, Eurasian and African plates. You can clearly see our global geostrategic position and the maritime and territorial dimension we add to the European Union.

Europe is facing a reorganisation of the international system, with a certain amount of international disorder.

We must acknowledge the difficulties of adaptation.

This reality forces us to take action more assertively regarding the European Union's relations with the rest of the world.

However, this does not mean that we should call everything into question. The answer cannot be to dismantle what has been a success story until now, such as the Cohesion Policy, which already has insufficient resources dedicated to the outermost regions. This places an excessive burden on their financial capabilities, which are already unable to meet what are, after all, European needs.

Hence, the importance of this meeting, which comes on the eve of the European Commission's important communication on the post-27 Multiannual Financial Framework. What will be stated tomorrow, despite being the beginning of a negotiation process, is symbolic in terms of the future and the message we wish to convey to Europeans.

The theme of this panel allows me to convey the Azores' view on this matter, which is indeed very important for our common future, not only that of the Azores but also that of the European Union itself.

Cohesion Policy benefits all Member States of the European Union directly or indirectly. It is its largest investment policy. Modernisation cannot mean its disappearance or dismantling. Cutting red tape cannot mean treating what is effectively different as the same. Simplification cannot mean excluding regional and local authorities from the design and management of the Cohesion Policy.

The multilevel approach, the principle of partnership and subsidiarity must be maintained and respected, as must Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which confers legal status on the Outermost Regions.

As a region, the Azores have made very positive progress in integrating into the Union, partly as a result of the Cohesion Policy and European funds, which are essential for continuing this progress.

This investment by the European Union in our development is also a decisive factor in the Union's ability to enhance, together with us, its geostrategic position in its relations with the rest of the world. And I ask: is being present in two oceans and three continents essential for the European Union to regain its global importance, lost in recent years to powers such as Russia or China, which, incidentally, are also looking at us with great interest?

We are Europeans and we value and defend European values. However, we cannot accept that it should become the new normality to have a multi-speed EU that leaves us behind...

I ask again. Is there anything more important for European security and defence than having developed, socially and territorially cohesive, occupied outermost regions, granting Europeans the “right to stay”? The European Union's failure to take action makes these regions and territories more receptive to external players, and this could pose a threat to the European project and European democracies. This deserves attention.

The Outermost Regions are the maritime and air border of the EU, but they are also a repository of biodiversity, as 80% of European biodiversity is located there. Last but not least, regarding the European Union's participation in achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals, we are pioneers and leaders in defining 30% of the Azores sea as Marine Protected Areas. Therefore, we do not need obligations for important environmental goals. What we do need are incentives to continue doing what we do well.

I commend the position taken by the Committee on Regional Development in its uncompromising defence of cohesion policy and the outermost regions. With this public hearing, we are also linking the economic and social development of the regions to their ability to be a vital instrument in the Union's relations with the rest of the world.

In the specific case of the Azores, with our nine islands and approximately 1 million km² of exclusive economic zone, we occupy a large part of the North Atlantic, representing more than half of Portugal's EEZ, which is the fifth largest EEZ in the EU.

For this reason, I have advocated transforming regions of need, which are and will continue to be so due to their unique condition, into regions of opportunity. We have received a great deal from the EU, but we have contributed a great deal and can contribute even more to the European project: for the future of Europe.

Let me give you a few examples:

We had to build port and airport infrastructures on all islands, which now need to be maintained and modernised.

With the new dual approach, these are basic logistical infrastructures that can be enhanced and leveraged to serve the European Union's strategy and its relevance in the world, for peace and territorial integrity.

We have special conditions that make activities in the space sector attractive, with direct access to space, without conflicting with space debris, also enhancing this strategic European asset, which is fundamental for us to compete with other world powers.

We have a regional strategy for protecting our sea, in terms of implementing a blue economy. We are a people who know the other side of the Atlantic well, from Brazil to the United States and Canada, motivated by our emigration, which has allowed us to forge deep links with the political, economic and cultural circles of those countries. We are, in the Atlantic, a hub of influence with the potential to be a benchmark for Europe. Research, innovation and knowledge of the deep sea, but also protection of critical submarine infrastructures, and I recall the Russian ghost fleet or Chinese fishing vessels in the Atlantic, or the monitoring and protection of air and space.

With this in mind, I consider that the European Union has a strategic interest in ensuring that the Azores and other outermost regions maintain and strengthen the conditions for using infrastructures for the benefit and defence of the European Union, its policies and interests.

It is in the European Union's interest that collective equipment related to accessibility remains as operational as possible. It is in the European Union's interest that the Azores sea, our marine protected areas and our blue economy are supported by science and innovation with specific technological measures within the scope of EU action for security and defence and environmental sustainability.

For collective security, because never before has a European defence policy made so much sense as it does now.

The European Union's dialogue with NATO is necessary and urgent. A significant majority of EU Member States belong to NATO. Our defence framework cannot ignore the Atlantic Ocean and must foster cohesion among allies, both in Europe and on the American continent.

The Azores, in this context, are at the core of these relations. This means that we are effectively useful to the Union in these relations.

The next Multiannual Financial Framework cannot ignore this reality. Cohesion, competitiveness and collective security are three indispensable pillars, as is respect for the uniqueness of the outermost regions.

Therefore, when leveraging European investment in the defence sector and similar activities, we cannot ignore the importance of territorial cohesion and competitiveness.

On islands, everything revolves around accessibility. Air and sea transport are not a luxury. They are a necessity, and we cannot create even more difficulties and disruption in this already complicated system.

In this regard, we have been pushing for the adoption of a specific programme, known as POSEI, under Article 349 of the TFEU, for transport in the Outermost Regions.

We have had the support of the European Parliament. The European Commission itself has recognised its validity. Yet we need action - urgent action - and I ask for your continued support.

In both of these areas, we are counting on the institutions of the European Union to acknowledge the solidarity they have proclaimed and take on these goals together with the Member States, as the return is far greater than the investment.

In the Multiannual Financial Framework, we cannot lose sight of the original dimension of territorial cohesion. This is the cornerstone of the European project. The European Commission must understand this and take every aspect of it into account.

Once again, I am counting on the European Parliament and this REGI Committee to join us in dialogue with the Commission and the Council in this final process of establishing the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Azores and the other eight outermost regions are collaborating with the Commission in reassessing the European Union's strategy for the Outermost Regions. We have jointly presented a document that reflects our vision for the full integration of the outermost regions into the European Union, but all this could come to nothing if the MFF proposal takes a different approach. We are open to improvements, but not to setbacks or detractions from our contribution to the European project.

Thank you very much."