Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on March 21, 2024 in Ponta Delgada, adopted the following measures:

1. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree approving the organisational structure of the XIV Regional Government of the Azores.

2. Approve the Resolution proceeding to the administrative annulment of the Government Council Resolution no. 203/2023, of December 5, which declares the public utility of the compulsory purchase of the urban property, located in Portinho de São Pedro no. 3, in the parish of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, municipality of Lagoa.

The public utility declaration for the aforementioned compulsory purchase was requested from the Regional Government by the Lagoa City Council. In a letter dated January 14, 2014, the Lagoa City Council informed the Regional Government that it had acquired the building under consideration by private law, through a public deed signed on November 3, 2023. As, on the date of the Government Council Resolution no. 203/2023 of December 5, the building in question had been owned by the Lagoa City Council since November 3, 2023, the said Resolution is, therefore, null and void.

3. Approve the Resolution extending the term of the transitional financial support for the payment of housing loan instalments (CREDITHAB) until December 31, 2024.

Faced with a generalised and persistent rise in interest rates, which began in late 2022, the Regional Government approved, in February 2023, a complementary support line to subsidise interest on mortgage loans designated as CREDITHAB. It aims to complement national measures that promote the flexibility and renegotiation of contract conditions, in the case of loans with a significant effort rate, under the terms set out in the regulations.

This measure was amended in May and October 2023, extending its scope and simplifying the requirements for access to support.

Given the exceptional and transitional situation of the economy, the measure was intended to run until 2023, without preventing it from being extended for another year, depending on the budget allocation for 2024.

It is now clear that, since the peak in reference interest rates in October 2023, there has been a downward trend, having already fallen back to the figures of June last year, and it is expected that they will continue to fall over this year.

Nevertheless, the interest rate differential on mortgage loans, compared to the historical average of Euribor rates, will remain significant during 2024. For this reason, the support has been extended until December 31, 2024.

4. Approve the Resolution setting the maximum limit of financial support to be granted in 2024 at €5,380,000.00 for programme contracts to allocate financial support to initiatives based on annual and multiannual programmes of interest to developing tourism in the Azores.

The amount now set is intended for the development of programme contracts to be signed with non-profit associations to implement projects of public interest aimed at promoting the Azores as a destination or the various tourism products on the national and international markets. It will also support actions designed to study, monitor and follow up tourism activity in the Azores, and actions that contribute to creating structured tourist entertainment services.

5. Approve the Resolution authorising the signing of a programme contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores, S.A. for the acquisition of two reach-stackers for the Horta Port. 

The passage of the Hipólito depression through the Horta port in January this year caused permanent damage to the port's two telescopic forklifts.

The financial contribution from the Autonomous Region of the Azores under the programme contract is set at €1,300,000.00.

This acquisition is essential to ensure the operation of the Horta port.

6. Approve the Resolution recognising as an action of significant public interest the intervention regarding the expansion project of the Figueiral Wind Farm, located in the parish and municipality of Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island.

EDA Renováveis, S.A. has requested that the 6th phase of the Energy Development Plan for the "Expansion of the Figueiral Wind Farm," located on the island of Santa Maria, be recognised as of significant public interest, so as to increase the total annual power output of the Figueiral Wind Farm from 1500 kW to 3600 kW.

The current configuration of the wind farm is in the final phase of operation, as the installed equipment has reached the end of its useful life. For this reason, EDA Renováveis, S.A., intends to carry out a complete remodelling of the wind farm, with a significant increase in installed power at the same location - the Figueiral Wind Farm - making it possible to use the existing grid connection facilities as well as the good and well-known qualities wind sources, while maintaining the same area for the same purpose.  The option of maintaining the existing location seeks to minimise the operating courses, without causing new impacts elsewhere, following the principle of non-dispersion in the territory.