Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on January 6, 2026, in Ponta Delgada, decided to adopt the following measures:

1. Submit to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores a draft Bill amending Decree-Law No. 37 – A/2025, of March 4, with a view to including a provision that makes the reimbursement of the difference between the commercial fare paid by resident passengers at the time of ticket purchase and the administratively set fare independent of the passengers' tax and social security status.

The Regional Government has always believed that, as is the case with the ‘Azores Fare,’ residents should only pay the administratively fixed fare for their travel between the Azores and Mainland Portugal and between the Azores and Madeira. Round-trip fares are set at €119 for residents in general and €89 for resident students for travel between the Azores and Mainland Portugal, and €79 for residents in general and €59 for resident students for travel between the Azores and Madeira.

The opinions issued by the Azorean Government during the process that led to the publication of Decree-Law No. 1-A/2026 of January 6 and Ordinances No. 12-A/2026/1 and No. 12 – B/2026/1, both of January 6, have always defended this principle and stated the disagreement of the Regional Government regarding the imposition of requirements on the situation of citizens in their contributory obligations to the State.

Considering that, based on the three legal instruments mentioned above, the reimbursement of the difference between the commercial fare paid by passengers when purchasing their tickets and the administratively determined fare, whose amounts are also mentioned above, depends on passengers being up to date with their tax payments. Ultimately, this contradicts the position of the Azorean Government.

2. Adopt the Resolution approving the Regional Programme for the Reduction of Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies 2025-2030.

Among the goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is essential to ensure access to quality healthcare and promote well-being for all, at all ages, particularly by reinforcing the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

The Programme of the XIV Government of the Azores advocates, in the context of Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, a coordinated and effective approach involving a multifactorial intervention, consisting of five components: prevention, deterrence, risk reduction and harm mitigation, treatment and reintegration.

In this regard, the Regional Programme for the Reduction of Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies 2025-2030 adopts a regional strategy, coordinated with national and international policies and guidelines. It reflects the ability of regional entities to join forces in support of a cause that is relevant and present in the global and Portuguese reality, given the scale and importance it has in the lives of many Azorean citizens and their community, reinforcing the cooperation dynamics already in place and creating new ones that are pertinent in the fields of knowledge and intervention.

3. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree amending the System for the Allocation of Support Products in the Region to people with disabilities or impairments.

Regional Legislative Decree No. 14/2012/A laid down the general basis on which the legal framework for the prevention, habilitation, rehabilitation and participation of people with disabilities or impairments is based.

This Regional Legislative Decree establishes the creation of a regional system for allocating support products or technical aids.

Regional Implementing Decree No. 13/2015/A established the Regional System for the Allocation of Support Products

Government Council Resolution No. 111/2023 approved the Regional Strategy for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Azores.

The Regional Implementing Decree, now approved, implements the revision of the legislation governing the aforementioned System for the Allocation of Support Products in the Region.

With the approval of this decree, structural changes are introduced that centralise the prescription of support products in the health sector, to be carried out in island health units or hospitals within the Regional Health Service.

The aim is to overcome the constraints previously identified, namely those arising from the dispersion of prescribing entities and the lack of specialised technical skills outside the health sector.

Combined with the progressive dematerialisation of the process, via electronic medical prescriptions, and the integration of telemedicine, these measures promote the elimination of territorial asymmetries, the simplification of procedures and the promotion of efficiency, effectiveness and equity, ensuring more universal and rapid access to support products in the Region.

4. Approve the Resolution renewing, for 2026, the allowance to be granted to passengers residing in the Region – the so-called “Azores Fare."

Since its implementation in June 2021, the “Azores Fare” has been widely accepted by the Azoreans.

The “Azores Fare” has fulfilled its purpose of promoting the movement of people and goods between the islands, generating a new economic dynamic and stronger social cohesion.

The resolution now approved updates the allowance amounts for passengers residing in the Region, aligned with the inflation rate calculated by the National Statistics Institute (INE) for the previous year.

The allowance referred to in the previous paragraph is variable and corresponds to the difference between the price charged by the concessionaire of the regular air transport service within the Region, according to the public service obligations in force, and the maximum amounts of €61.00 for a round trip, and €35.00 for a one-way trip, for adult passengers, €46.00 for a round trip and €28.00 for one-way trips for child passengers, and €13.00 for a round trip and €10.00 for one-way trips for infant passengers.

The expenditure for the allowance to be granted has a budget limit of €10,000,000.00 for 2026. 

5. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree creating the Regional Commission for European Strategy and External Cooperation, a strategic and coordinating body of the Regional Government in the field of European affairs and external cooperation.

The establishment of the Azores in the European and international context requires strategic, consistent and proactive external action to ensure that the Region's specific features and needs are effectively recognised and taken into account in the EU decision-making processes, in interregional cooperation bodies and in the relevant national and international forums.

This law establishes the creation of the Regional Commission for European Strategy and External Cooperation as a strategic body for cross-cutting coordination of regional public administration, aimed at ensuring consistency of action, strategic coherence and effective alignment of the Region's external intervention.

6. Adopt the Resolution approving the list of applications selected and approved in 2025 under the legal framework for technical and financial cooperation between the Autonomous Regional Administration, parishes and regional parish associations.

7. Approve the Resolution authorising the granting of a guarantee to SATA Air Açores.

SATA Air Açores, S.A. is facing the need to secure financing, and the guarantee from the Autonomous Region of the Azores is essential for this operation to proceed. Therefore, the Council of the Government has decided to authorise the granting of a guarantee amounting to €25,000,000.00.

8. Approve the Resolution extending the exemption from port use fees for 2026 to vessels exclusively engaged in the transport of goods to the island of Flores, operated by national shipowners.

9. Adopt the Resolution renewing, for 2026, the "Azores 9 Islands Fare," which is intermodal (air and sea), single-use and complementary to the "Azores Fare" programme.

10. Approve the Resolution renewing, for 2026, the aid for inter-island transport of sick pets, provided there are duly proven medical reasons.

11. Adopt the Resolution authorising the permanent and free transfer of property located at Praça Almeida Garrett, parish of Angra (Nossa Senhora da Conceição) to the Angra do Heroísmo Municipal Council, for the purpose of increasing public parking in the municipality.

12. Approve the Resolutions authorising the free transfer of use of sections B and C of the building located at Rua da Vista Alegre, parish of Matriz, municipality of Horta, Association of Parents and Friends of People with Disabilities of Faial, with the aim of providing a space for activities for people with disabilities and impairments, as well as for the monitoring of adapted curriculum classes.

13. Approve the Resolution authorising the transfer, free of charge and permanently, of the urban property located at Rua de São Vicente, parish of Matriz, where the Ribeira Grande Municipal Museum is housed, to the Ribeira Grande Municipal Council.

14. Approve the Resolution authorising the free transfer of use of section A of the building located at Rua da Vista Alegre, parish of Matriz, municipality of Horta, to the University of the Azores, with the aim of providing classrooms, laboratories and offices. These are essential for the scientific research work conducted by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries and the Institute of Marine Sciences.