Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, chaired the opening session of the 4th Migration Forum today on the island of Corvo, highlighting the deep-rooted migratory history of the Azorean people and the “integration and tolerance” shown towards those arriving on the nine islands.

The event, which runs until Friday and also covers the island of Flores, focuses on the challenges and opportunities of human mobility, placing the Autonomous Region of the Azores at the forefront of reception policies in the Outermost Regions.

Speaking via video link from Lisbon, Paulo Estêvão drew a historical parallel between the waves of Azorean emigration to various destinations – and their vital importance for the islands’ development – and the current flows of foreign citizens seeking to settle in the archipelago.

For the Regional Secretary, the answer is clear: “integration and tolerance” are the values that best “describe the Azorean people."

Considering the specific situation on the island of Corvo, Paulo Estêvão acknowledged the ongoing challenge of declining population numbers. Nevertheless,  he was keen to praise the “remarkable integration efforts” of immigrants who choose to live on the smallest island of the Azores.

The government official pragmatically acknowledged the structural challenges to be overcome, such as access to housing. In this regard, he identified this as a factor that hinders both young Azoreans and the immigrant population from settling in the Region, reiterating the Government’s commitment to reversing this trend.

In his speech, the Secretary for Communities also emphasised the crucial importance of legalising the status of foreign residents in the archipelago.

This is an ongoing endeavour undertaken by the Regional Government,  driven by coordinated efforts with AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, and with leading social partners working on the ground, such as the Association of Immigrants in the Azores (AIPA) and CRESAÇOR.

Under the theme “Migration in the Atlantic Outermost Regions: Challenges, Opportunities and the Future of Human Mobility in the Outermost Regions,” the forum brings together experts, academics, public bodies and civil society organisations.

The event will be attended by prominent national and international figures, namely Pedro Portugal Gaspar, President of the Board of Directors of AIMA, and Vasco Malta, Head of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Portugal.

The debate is further enriched by the insights of those working on the ground. It will feature local representatives from the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, alongside teachers, the President of the Flores Secondary School Board, and representatives from the Santa Cruz Municipal Council.

Following on from the three previous editions, held on the islands of Faial, Pico, São Miguel and Terceira between 2023 and 2025, the 4th Migration Forum confirms the Azorean Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting dialogue, cooperation and inclusion.

The event, thus, consolidates the Region’s role as a true bridge linking communities, cultures and territories, capable of transforming the challenges of geographical isolation into innovative and inclusive reception practices.