Communiqué from the Council of the Government
Horta
Communiqué from the Council of the Government
The Council of the Government, which met on June 12, 2024 in the city of Horta, adopted the following measures:
1. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree establishing the system for the granting of incentives for the establishment of medical staff in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Despite the legislative measures already adopted by the XIII Government of the Azores, there are still major constraints in the recruitment and, above all, the establishment of medical staff in the Regional Health Service and certain areas of the archipelago.
It is still necessary to improve and develop the system of incentives for the establishment of medical staff in the Autonomous Region of the Azores to attract more doctors to fill vacancies that have proven difficult to fill.
2. Pass the Regional Implementing Decree approving the organisational structure and staff of Graciosa Island Health Unit.
Pursuing the public interest and the mission of health services in promoting and providing primary health care to the population requires management geared towards efficiency and quality criteria, as well as an appropriate technical and assistance hierarchy.
Considering the need to standardise the organisation and operation of the Graciosa Island Health Unit with other island health units, as well as the need to take into account the specific features of Graciosa Island, it is necessary to make some changes to its organisation.
As such, the rule stipulating that members of the board of directors must take on the role of clinical and nursing director, whenever they are in their respective careers, is repealed.
3. Authorise the revision of cooperation contract - investment value no. 170/2023 of September 18, 2023, signed between the Regional Government and ADI - Association for Intergenerational Development.
The revision provides for a maximum co-financing amount of up to €3,053,120.00, with the aim of ensuring the necessary funding for the construction of the Santo António Daycare Centre in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, and payment of all the associated costs. It delegates to the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security the powers to sign the revision of the said contract on behalf of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
4. Approve the Resolutions declaring the public utility, for compulsory purchase, of the following land parcels:
- land plot with an area of 1720.20m2, located in Ademoro, parish of São João, municipality of Lajes do Pico.
The aforementioned compulsory purchase arises from the need for the Lajes do Pico Town Council to build a water reservoir for public supply and a borehole to collect water for public supply.
- land plot with an area of 9.00m2, located in Terras, parish of Lajes do Pico, municipality of Lajes do Pico.
The aforementioned compulsory purchase stems from the need for the Lajes do Pico Town Council to build an aerial transformer station to service the public water supply network in Terras, parish of Lajes do Pico.
- land plot with an area of 640.00m2, located in Almagreira, parish of Lajes do Pico, municipality of Lajes do Pico.
The aforementioned compulsory purchase is due to the need for the Lajes do Pico Town Council to build a water reservoir for public supply in Almagreira, parish and municipality of Lajes do Pico.
5. Approve the Resolution authorising the company Ilhas de Valor S.A. to sell the properties corresponding to the hotel on Flores Island, the hotel on Graciosa Island, the Villas on Graciosa Island and a property on Terceira Island.
The Regional Government wants to optimise the management of the Region's real estate assets and attract private investment, which is essential for the development of tourist and recreational infrastructures.
This decision taken by the Regional Government follows the work carried out by external consultants to review the business plan of Ilhas de Valor, S.A., under which it was recommended that the hotels be sold to a private entity.
Ilhas de Valor, S.A. owns four properties, the so-called " "Inatel Hotel of Flores Island" on the island of Flores, the so-called "Inatel Hotel of Graciosa Island" on the island of Graciosa, a group of five villas adjacent to the hotel, known as "Graciosa Villas," and a property on the island of Terceira, located in the parish of São Mateus da Calheta, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.
This authorises Ilhas de Valor S.A. to sell the said properties, through independent public procedures, through a public auction, for a total base price of €3,398,112.00, as follows:
a) Flores Hotel, for a base price of €1,101,500.00;
b) Graciosa Hotel, for a base price of €1,303,390.00;
c) Graciosa Villas, for a base price of €528,222.00; and
d) Terceira Island property, for a base price of €465,000.00.
6. Approve the Resolutions authorising the transfer, permanently and free of charge, of the following assets owned by the Region:
- to the Municipality of Madalena, a land plot, with an area of 5,808.00m², located in the parish and municipality of Madalena, Pico Island.
The Municipality of Madalena, within the scope of its powers in the area of housing, intends to invest in the construction of social housing to alleviate the shortages in that municipality and, in this regard, has requested the Regional Government to transfer the building in question for this purpose.
- to the Municipality of Horta, an urban property located at Rua da Igreja, no. 6, in the parish of Feteira, municipality of Horta, with a total area of 200 m².
This building is located in an area at risk due to its proximity to the sea and, following Hurricane Lorenzo, was severely damaged.
The Horta City Council has requested the definitive transfer of the building, with the aim of creating a leisure and wellness area.
- to the Municipality of Praia da Vitória, two properties located in Caminho do Facho, parish of Santa Cruz, municipality of Praia da Vitória.
The Praia da Vitória City Council has requested the Regional Government to transfer the said properties, with the aim of regulating the respective building development.
- to the Municipality of Ribeira Grande, the urban building located in Campo das Freiras/Detrás-os-Mosteiros, parish of Matriz, municipality of Ribeira Grande, consisting of the former premises of the Gaspar Frutuoso school Basic Education School.
This transfer is intended for the development of activities and projects focusing on education, teaching and vocational training, heritage, culture and science, leisure time, and sport and health, within the remit and competences legally assigned to the municipality of Ribeira Grande.
In return, the municipality of Ribeira Grande agrees to make a building available for the Regional Public Administration services.
7. Approve the Resolution authorising the granting of a guarantee to Portos dos Açores, S.A.
Portos dos Açores, S.A. intends to contract an operation for refinancing purposes. The funding in question will not increase the company's net indebtedness. The amount in question totals €2,000,000.00.
8. Approve the Resolution authorising the granting of a guarantee to Lotaçor - Serviço de Lotas dos Açores, S.A., under the conditions set out in the technical sheet attached to the resolution.
Lotaçor - Serviço de Lotas dos Açores, S.A. intends to contract an operation for refinancing purposes only. The funding does not represent an increase in the company's net indebtedness. The amount in question totals €2,000,000.00.
9. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree regulating the "Incentive Scheme for the Digital Transition of Companies in the Azores."
As part of the reprogramming of the national RRP, it was possible to increase the number of investments to be made in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Seven new investments are now included, which the Regional Government considers fundamental for the Region as they fill some of the gaps and shortcomings identified in the initial version of the RRP, particularly regarding the support to be granted to regional companies.
The investment "Capacity Building and Digital Transformation of Companies in the Azores" falls within this context. It aims to strengthen the digitalisation of companies and catch up with the digital transition process by creating a new system of incentives aimed specifically at Azorean companies.
10. Adopt the proposal for Regional Legislative Decree aimed at approving the Multiannual Budget Programming Framework for the period between 2025 and 2028.
11. Adopt the Resolution approving the Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous Region of the Azores for the financial year 2023.
12. Approve the proposal for a Regional Legislative Decree amending the Regional Legislative Decree 28/2011/A, which structures the Azores Marine Park.
As part of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Azores have committed to protecting 30% of the Azores Sea by the end of 2023 through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with at least 15% fully protected.
With the Blue Azores Programme, based on the best scientific knowledge available, and in close liaison with sea users, the programme has organised more than 40 meetings since December 2021 to support participatory processes in the co-creation of the new RAMPA.
The new Azores Marine Park will include oceanic Marine Protected Areas (between six and 200 miles off the coast) that will safeguard 30% of the Azores Sea, half of which will be off-limits to any extractive activity.
This proposal also provides the legal framework for managing the new network.
The coastal MPAs remain within the current legal framework of the Island Nature Parks. They are expected to be reviewed through the participatory coastal process of the Blue Azores Programme, which began in January 2023.
The new Network of Marine Protected Areas of the Azores will be a fundamental tool in recovering and conserving marine biodiversity, from which a truly sustainable blue economy can be created.
13. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree regulating the allocation of financial incentives for the introduction of new electric vehicles into the market, as well as the allocation of financial incentives for the acquisition of charging stations for electric vehicles.
There is a need for adjustment to market developments, and to clarify and fill in some gaps/inconsistencies identified in the legislation in force.
The proposed amendments concern the following:
- deadline for proving the scrapping of a combustion vehicle;
- change in de minimis limits.
14. Approve the Resolution authorising the signing of a contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores, S.A. to regulate the promotion of the acquisition of a vessel for pilotage services for the Ponta Delgada port.
The Ponta Delgada port currently has only one vessel for the pilotage service, which is already 19 years old, exposing it to high risk in the event of a vessel breakdown and making the necessary maintenance difficult.
The acquisition of a new vessel for the pilotage service of the Ponta Delgada port is of paramount importance, as it would jeopardise the operation of that port.
The financial contribution from the Autonomous Region of the Azores under this contract amounts to €1,500,000.00.
15. Approve two resolutions on the concession of public services for regular passenger transport on the islands of Graciosa and Faial.
Considering the European Parliament and Council Regulation on public passenger transport services by road and the Legal Framework for Public Passenger Transport Services, all public passenger transport service contracts in force in the Region must be brought into line with this legal framework.
The concession contract for regular public passenger transport and the provision of regular public passenger transport services during weekends on the islands of Graciosa and Faial will expire on December 31, 2024, so it is necessary to ensure the continuity of services.
Accordingly, it was decided to procure the regular passenger transport service:
- on the island of Graciosa, for a maximum period of 15 years, and to authorise the respective expenditure in the contract to be signed, up to a maximum amount of €2,550,000.00, plus VAT at the legal rate in force;
- on the island of Faial, for a maximum period of 15 years, and to authorise the respective expenditure in the contract to be signed, up to a maximum amount of €2,925,000.00, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.
16. Approve the resolutions delegating to the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment the powers to carry out all the necessary procedures to finalise the public tender procedure for the acquisition of services for:
- "Coordination and Supervision of the Construction of the Houses located on Lots 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 of the Ginetes II Housing Development, parish of Ginetes, municipality of Ponta Delgada";
- "Coordination and Supervision of the Infrastructure Contract for the Candeias Housing Development, parish of Fenais da Luz, municipality of Ponta Delgada."
- "Revision of the project for the construction of three houses on the island of Graciosa";
- "Development of the project to improve the energy efficiency of 37 houses in the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Neighbourhood, parish of Santa Cruz, municipality of Praia da Vitória."
