Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on April 18, 2024, in Ponta Delgada, adopted the following measures:

1. Approve the Resolution authorising the amendment to the contract signed between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores, S.A., which aims to regulate the promotion of the construction of a new support building for the North Marina, as part of the redevelopment of the seafront of the city of Horta.

Port infrastructures are fundamental to the Region's economic development and, in this regard, the new support building for the North Marina Norte intends to provide better conditions for both marina workers and those visiting the island of Faial by sea.

In November 2023, Portos dos Açores, S.A. launched the public tender procedure to award the works contract for the construction of the new Northern Marina building. However, it failed to receive proposals within the defined base price, which led to a revision of the project's budget estimate. 

The amount of the financial support to be allocated by the Autonomous Region of the Azores under the contract shall be increased by €420,000.00.

2. Approve the Resolution continuing the mission structure for mental health.

It is necessary to continue developing mental health care in the Region. 
There is a need to review the existing model, with an ever greater focus on the individual, proximity and integration of care, respecting the need to optimise the available resources, coordinating them and leveraging intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral synergies.

At the same time, it is important to encourage community interventions in mental health, replacing care provided in large institutions and promoting the integration of people with severe mental illness into the community.

The existing Mission Structure for Mental Health, now formally extended, is made up of a team comprising a coordinator and a full member, whose mission is to continue and complete the process of coordinating, promoting and implementing the development of the Regional Strategy for the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Psychiatric Diseases in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

3. Approve the Resolution establishing the period for the collection of information from employers with employees concerning the single report on employment and working conditions.

Given the need for coordination in terms of Collective Labour Regulations, it is important to adjust the collection period for the Single Report defined for companies employing workers whose jobs are based in the Autonomous Region of the Azores to the period set for the rest of the country.

The collection period for the Single Report runs between March 16 and June 15 of each calendar year. The information on the warning indicator system will be collected between October 1 and 31 of each calendar year.

4. Approve the Resolution approving 15 applications to the legal and financial support scheme for climate emergencies, due to damage resulting from extreme weather events that occurred on August 20, 2023, in the parishes of Remédios da Bretanha, Santo António, Ajuda da Bretanha, Capelas, Ginetes and Mosteiros, all in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.

The Regional Legislative Decree no.14/2022/A of June 1 created the legal and financial support scheme for climate emergencies, as a support system aimed at responding to situations of loss and damage to property resulting from extreme weather events, as well as supporting public investments intended to mitigate the impacts of climate change and its effects.

On August 20, 2023, abnormal and unpredictable weather conditions hit the island of São Miguel, causing various types of property damage to the people affected, namely in the parishes of Remédios da Bretanha, Santo António, Ajuda da Bretanha, Capelas, Ginetes and Mosteiros, all in the municipality of Ponta Delgada. It is, therefore, determined that the legal and financial support scheme for climate emergencies should apply to property loss and damage resulting from such extreme weather events.

5. Approve the Resolution authorising the opening of a public tender for the signing of a three-year contract granting the private operation of the bar located on Porto Pim Beach, Faial Island.

This measure aims to provide the necessary conditions so visitors to the Monte da Guia complex can enjoy a space where food products are available for sale.