Artur Lima reiterates importance of POSEI schemes to European institutions
Brussels
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, participated as a guest speaker at the POSEI Forum for the Outermost Regions in Brussels, co-organised by MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, an initiative promoted by the European Parliament's Intergroup on Cohesion Policy and the Outermost Regions.
The Vice-President called for the re-establishment of POSEI Fisheries, the strengthening and updating of POSEI for Agriculture and the creation of POSEI Transport.
"Strengthening these mechanisms is just a drop in the ocean for the European Commission but a sea of opportunities for the Outermost Regions," he emphasised. At this very demanding time for the European Union, "we have to consider the specificities and constraints that the Outermost Regions and the Azores always face," stated Artur Lima.
"The economic activity coasts are higher in the Outermost Regions," warned the Vice-President of the Government.
"These are structural barriers that have a real impact on the daily lives of the inhabitants and businesses of Outermost Regions," he continued. Resilience is "a buzzword throughout the European Union" that "will lose its meaning if it is not put into practice in the regions that are at a structural disadvantage when it comes to realising it," stressed Artur Lima.
In his speech, the Vice-President recalled that the agricultural sector "is strategic for the Region's competitiveness." In this regard, "guaranteeing the financial boost for POSEI is about securing the sustainable development and competitiveness of a crucial activity to the Azores."
Regarding the fisheries sector, Artur Lima mentioned the high costs of this activity and its "evident economic and social impacts." In a context where the Azores are "recognised for sustainable practices in this area," aligned with European and international ambitions, "re-establishing POSEI Fisheries is to recognise that these sectors, which are so important locally, deserve fair recognition and cannot be left behind," he said.
The transport sector in the Region faces an "additional complexity, the so-called double periphery," the Vice-President, recalling the existence of "more than one study conducted by the European Parliament recommending the creation of a POSEI Transport" programme for Outermost Regions. This mechanism is "essential for Outermost Regions to achieve fair levels of cohesion and economic development," he pointed out.
"When investment is being made on the European continent in railway transport, I want to say to all European decision-makers that it is important to invest in maritime transport because, in the Azores, the sea is our railway," concluded Artur Lima.
Artur Lima emphasised the specificities and actual needs of the Azores at the session dedicated to closing the panels on the three POSEI schemes, which was also attended by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Younous Omarjee. The Forum was closed by the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Cohesion and Reform, Raffaele Fitto.
On the sidelines of the event, the Vice-President of the Regional Government met with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Raffaele Fitto. He once again had the opportunity to share the specific conditions of the Region and highlight the importance of these mechanisms for the fair and sustainable development of the Azores and the other Outermost Regions, given the current European and global situation.
