José Manuel Bolieiro emphasises “political unity” in defending Azores’ interests in RTRP - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, has just finished a series of meetings with the political parties represented at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores to discuss the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP).

On the second day of meetings, the head of the Azorean Government met with the CDS-PP and the PSD parties at the Capitães-Generais Palace in Angra do Heroísmo, and with the Left Bloc and the Socialist Party at the Sant’Ana Palace in Ponta Delgada, thus closing the political consultation process that began this week.

The President of the Regional Government highlighted the “constructive spirit” and the willingness demonstrated by various political parties.

During the meetings, the analysis of the RTRP concept note – a document currently under public consultation – was also shared with the political parties.

According to José Manuel Bolieiro, some uncertainties remain, particularly regarding the funding and the sources supporting this programme.

The President of the Government emphasised that there is an unequivocal position among Azorean political parties: the need to ensure the Region’s full inclusion in the RTRP.  

“The demand for the Azores to be included in this programme is clear. Although the concept note points to this possibility, it is important to consolidate this position so that the Region’s participation is not merely incidental, he stated.

Another key aspect of the political debate concerns the programme’s governance model. The Government of the Azores defends that the Region should have a direct say in the management of the RTRP, either through representation within a national body or through the creation of a regional body dedicated to implementing the programme.

“Concerning the management of funds, the Region and the Government of the Azores must be involved in the body responsible for managing this tool, either through a national body with regional representation or through the establishment of a regional body,” he defended.

José Manuel Bolieiro also pointed out that the Azores, as an archipelago, requires solutions tailored to its specific territorial characteristics.

“The archipelago of the Azores, with nine islands scattered across the Atlantic, presents its own unique challenges that must be duly considered in this document,” he emphasised.

The head of the Azorean Government expressed his satisfaction with the political consultation process, highlighting the consensus reached among the various political parties.

“I am pleased with this consultation process and the spirit of consensus and solidarity shown by everyone. It is important that the Azores play a part in shaping and managing this project,” he said.

Among the demands put forward by the Region is also the possibility that projects submitted by the Azores might benefit from high or even full funding rates, thereby avoiding additional costs for the regional budget.

The President of the Government also emphasised that the RTRP could provide an opportunity for the Azores to develop structural projects covering the programme’s three pillars: recovery, resilience and transformation.

“We should not regard these pillars as watertight compartments. There are projects whose transformative nature simultaneously promotes regeneration and strengthens the Region’s resilience,” he concluded.

Now that the consultations have concluded, the Government of the Azores is continuing its work to identify and develop projects that can be submitted under the RTRP, with a view to ensuring that the Region fully benefits from this new national investment mechanism.