José Manuel Bolieiro received Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and reiterated importance of working closely with MEPs representing the Azores - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, received Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, an Azorean member of the European Parliament, at his request. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange greetings, following his entry into office, and to discuss relevant matters for the Region.

Speaking after the audience, José Manuel Bolieiro conveyed his confidence in the Members of the European Parliament representing the Azores. 

"We count on your support to implement the European policies negotiated between the Region, the National Government and European institutions," he said.

The President of the Government stressed the importance of these policies in bringing the Azores closer to European economic and social development indices and tackling the structural challenges arising from the Azores being an outermost and archipelago region.

The need to implement a Specific Transport Programme was one of the priority topics discussed with Paulo do Nascimento Cabral.

"Due to the remoteness of the Azores from the European continent and the geographical dispersion of our nine islands, it is crucial to implement a programme that considers our particular circumstances," he stressed.

José Manuel Bolieiro reiterated his support for a specific POSEI programme (Programme of options specific to the remote and insular nature of the outermost regions) for transport as a solution to accessibility problems in the Outermost Regions.

The President of the Government also entrusted MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral with the task of delivering two letters of congratulations and defence of the Azores, addressed to the newly-elected President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission.

In his turn, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral conveyed his desire for his "first action" to be greeting the President of the Government of the Azores.

"I put myself at your service and, in this way, I serve the Azoreans," he said.

He added: "I have also come to say that I am already fulfilling my commitments to the Azoreans, starting with the creation of the Azorean front in the European Parliament, and this is being done with the four elected members representing the Azores but also with the defence of the status of the outermost regions. We are already at the stage of setting up the Intergroup on Cohesion Policy and the Outermost Regions."

The audience also reinforced the Regional Government's commitment to continue working closely with the MEPs representing the Azores, with a view to sustainable development and better living conditions for the Azoreans.