José Manuel Bolieiro stresses that "transparency is essential for strengthening public confidence" - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Azorean Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, chaired today the 4th Regional Conference on "Corruption Prevention and Transparency." An initiative part of the celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day, it took place at the Auditorium of the Agrarian Development Service, bringing together experts and entities for a broad reflection on integrity, prevention mechanisms and strengthening trust in institutions.

The head of the Azorean Government stressed the importance of consolidating a culture of transparency and public accountability, defending that "corruption prevention and transparency are essential to give credibility to institutions," as well as to bring public administration closer to citizens.

The session featured presentations on current challenges in this area, from the link between fraud, corruption and European funds, to the new GRECO evaluation cycle for autonomous regions and local authorities, including the role of ethical regulation in political life. The programme sought to combine technical knowledge with civic and institutional reflection.

The President of the Government also highlighted a new development with a direct impact on the regional economy, pointing out that "at this very moment, a technical meeting is taking place with business associations and the Regional Secretary for Finance to work on new financial resources." In this regard, he recalled that the RRP, in its initial version, did not include the allocation of direct support to business investment. José Manuel Bolieiro explained that, following the review and simplification process completed on October 31, it was possible to pave the way for new investment incentive instruments, namely through the Financial Instrument for Innovation and Competitiveness.

This measure includes a specific allocation for the Region amounting to €40 million, managed by Banco Português de Fomento (investment bank). It also provides for increases in the co-financing rates guaranteed by the Regional Government, which "may reach 70% of the investment value."

Outlining the scope of the decision, José Manuel Bolieiro stressed that "with this decision, we reiterate our commitment to creating better conditions for investment, innovation and prosperity," reinforcing the goal of "strengthening the Azorean economic fabric and projecting the Azores into the future."

The conference also featured several speakers and experts, including Ana Carla Almeida, Deputy Attorney General and Think Tank facilitator, António Delicado, Vice-President of GRECO and member of the Board of Directors of MENAC, and Susana Coroado, researcher, in a programme moderated by José Mouraz Lopes, President of the Board of Directors of MENAC. The session also featured a speech by Patrícia Borges, Coordinator of the Corruption Prevention and Transparency Office, highlighting the regional commitment to promoting good practices in integrity and transparency.

Related press release: Speech by the President of the Government