Artur Lima says Azores are vital to European and global security - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima, emphasised that the Azores “are resilient and are here to make their vital contribution to European and global security” at the General Assembly of the Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPRM).

The Vice-President of the Regional Government recalled the Azores’ historic role in European security during the Second World War, projecting that significance onto the current geostrategic context.

“We are halfway between Brussels and the United States, serving as a bridge between Europe and the United States,” he stated, adding that “the Azores are resilient and are here to make their vital contribution to European and global security.”

Artur Lima considered that this “is an important message, seeing that Europe tends to overlook the importance of  Outermost Regions and, above all, what it means to be an islander and live in the middle of the Atlantic, some 2,700 km from Brussels.”

The Vice-President of the Government also highlighted the size of the Region’s Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as its leading role in the protection of biodiversity.

“We lead by example, we do not preach, and this is what we need to discuss: preaching less and practising more,” he emphasised.

During the General Assembly, which took place in Sardinia, Italy, the regions in attendance discussed the forthcoming EU Strategy for the Islands and the Strategy for the Outermost Regions, currently being prepared by the European Commission.

Artur Lima recalled that the Azores have extensive experience, having held the Presidency of the Islands Commission for several years, as well as the Presidency of the CPMR.

“In this regard, and as an Outermost Region, we view the two Strategies broadly, recognising their importance and relevance. These should be used as tools to mitigate the challenges posed by different geographical conditions,” he asserted.

“Article 349 TFEU, like Article 174 TFEU, should not be merely a legal provision. It is a provision with meaning, and it is that meaning that Europe must take into account. Such provisions must lead to practical and meaningful action for our islands,” he defended.

The Vice-President also recalled his proposal for the European Union to establish a European Observatory for the Islands during the plenary meeting of the CPMR Islands Commission last November.

“Both strategies must primarily focus on placing remoteness at the centre of the political agenda in Brussels, ensuring that ‘Island-Proofing’ is applied to European policies,” he emphasised.

Artur Lima highlighted the potential of island regions as “natural laboratories of excellence.” In this regard, he noted that these regions must “be given priority as testing grounds for blue and circular economy solutions, with direct funding that does not force them to compete on uneven terms with large continental urban centres.”

The Vice-President of the Government also warned: “We are facing a rapid redefinition of global geopolitics, and Europe itself is adapting to this new reality.”

“Nevertheless, the diversity of our territories is our greatest asset, but our geographical fragmentation must not lead to political fragmentation,” he noted.

Europe’s island regions “are all facing the same storm, but they are not all in the same boat. However, we all want to reach the same destination. And we must weather the storm with steadfastness and determination,” he said.

The revision of these Strategies “will be the greatest test of true European solidarity this decade,” noted Artur Lima.