Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on February 19, 2026, in Ponta Delgada, decided to adopt the following measures:

1. Approve the Resolution renewing the “New Elderly” Programme for 2026.

The Regional Government, demonstrating its commitment to pursuing social policies for the elderly, created the "New Elderly" Programme in 2022 as a pilot project under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. It aimed to implement an innovative, differentiated and, above all, proximity-based response, allowing seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible, close to their communities, safely and independently, without severing their emotional ties.

In this regard and in view of the results achieved since the creation of the "New Elderly" Programme, already scientifically proven to be highly positive, it must remain in force for 2026. Therefore, it should be included in the Budget of the Autonomous Region of the Azores for 2026.

The costs associated with this programme are estimated to have a financial impact of up to €5,531,000.00.

2. Approve the Resolution authorising the expenditure and contracting of the project for the "Construction of 16 houses on plots 12 to 27 in the Sete Cidades Housing  Development in the parish of Sete Cidades, municipality of Ponta Delgada," with a base price of €3,100,000.00 and a completion period of 720 days.

The Regional Government continues to implement policies designed to improve the housing conditions of the regional housing stock, a commitment that has also been made and financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The Regional Government intends to build sixteen houses on the serviced plots of the Sete Cidades Housing Development, municipality of Ponta Delgada, with nine plots for two-bedroom houses and seven plots for three-bedroom houses.

As such, it has promoted the development of licensing and implementation projects, and has already reviewed the latter project.

Through Resolution no. 4/2025, the Government of the Azores, within the scope of this public works contract, opened a public tender procedure with a base price of €2,900,000.00 and a completion period of 450 days, which was unsuccessful.

Therefore, it is necessary to review the base price and the completion period of the contract.

3. Approve the Resolution maintaining the support for passengers under “Free Social Pass” for 2026.

Since September 2023, the Regional Government has decided to entrust the Regional Land Transport Fund with providing passenger support, with a view to the provision of a fare designed as "Free Social Fare" by companies operating inter-municipal and suburban municipal, public and regular passenger transport services.

The "Free Social Fare" is intended to support households with average income within the first and second Personal Income Tax brackets, encouraging the use of public transport as the preferred means of internal accessibility, with a view to reversing the current trend of increased use of private vehicles. The Regional Government considers that this measure, whose importance for Azorean families is undeniable, should continue to be implemented.

The Support for the "Free Social Fare" has a budget limit of €950,000.

4. Approve the Resolution authorising the granting of subsidies and other forms of financial aid by the Presidency of the Government to public and private entities. They are intended to support social, economic, cultural, sporting and religious actions and projects aimed at preserving traditions and regional heritage, or promoting the Region.

5. Approve the resolution authorising the signing of a programme contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the Association for the Economic Development of the Azores (AVEA) for 2026, in the amount of €620,000.00, intended to regulate cooperation between both parties in 2026.

6. Approve the Resolution authorising the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment to grant financial aid for the financing of activities, actions, projects or initiatives aimed at developing and enhancing the qualifications of the Region's population. These initiatives are intended to promote the quality of education and contribute to the management, modernisation or improvement of teaching and training activities in regional private vocational schools. Such initiatives must not be eligible for support or funding from European funds or other public programmes supporting vocational training.

7. Approve the Resolution authorising the signing of a programme contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the RAEGE Açores Association - Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations, in the maximum amount of €391,000.00 for 2026, with a view to the effective implementation of the Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations in the Region and the promotion of its scientific and technical activity.

8. The Regional Government approved a Resolution authorising the signing of an addendum to the programme contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the University of the Azores, in the amount of €252,569.28, to finance the purchase of technological equipment for scientific activities, with a view to the technological modernisation of the Pico Mountain Observatory, extending the deadline to October 31, 2026.

9. Approve the Resolution revising the regulations governing the land transport service for patients, updating the monthly contribution to the Regional Pre-Hospital Medical Emergency service.

10. Approve the Regional Implementing Decree ratifying the Detail Plan for Safeguarding of the Historic Area of Ribeira Grande.