Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met in the city of Horta on February 16, 2023, approved the following measures:

1 - Approve the Resolution authorising the Regional Government to grant non-refundable support, on an exceptional and temporary basis, to increase the disposable income of individuals who, having entered into a housing loan agreement, at a variable rate, have been more severely affected by the sharp growth in indexed interest rates. - CREDITHAB

Recognising the importance of nationwide support aimed at home loan holders and designed to make contractual conditions more flexible and renegotiate them by promoting competition in the banking sector, the Regional Government is aware that the scope and diversity of the banking services market in the Azores limits the reach of national measures in the regional context.

In this context, the Regional Government believes it is necessary to complement the support granted under the national legislation, with a financial line of support of regional scope to promote solidarity among all Azoreans and ensure compliance with the payment of instalments on housing loans, taken out until July 31, 2022, by those who are in a more fragile economic situation. The measure will be implemented on a temporary basis and for a period of time that will allow them to adapt to the new macroeconomic scenario, through solutions that will avoid general defaults and particularly adverse knock-on effects in the context of a fragmented market, as is the case of the Azorean market, which may even jeopardise regional economic cohesion.

The amount of €1,000,000.00 is set as the budget limit of the global financial support to be granted in 2023. It may be further adjusted, once the respective legal requirements are met.

The financial support, known as CREDITHAB, will be subject to regulations, which will set out the eligibility conditions and the rules for the allocation of support and its maintenance, namely the type and amount of support, the rights and obligations of the parties involved, the monitoring and follow-up measures and the penalties applicable in the event of non-compliance.

2 - Approve the Resolution authorising the first amendment to the programme contract signed between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores, S.A., on June 2, 2022. It provides for the purchase of a harbour crane and ancillary equipment with a minimum capacity of 100 tonnes and a reach of no less than 45 metres for the Ponta Delgada port, the purchase of a harbour crane with a minimum capacity of 100 tonnes and a reach of no less than 45 metres for the Praia da Vitória port, and an 80-100 tonne mobile crane for the Horta port. Additionally, the financial contribution of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is also increased, being estimated at €5,535,000.00.  

The XIII Regional Government of the Azores has noted that the port equipment at the ports managed by Portos dos Açores, S.A. is obsolete and worn out beyond its useful life, as a result of the lack of investment in recent years. This is the case of the ports located in Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitória and Horta.

Such a situation has caused enormous constraints and difficulties for companies that need to use port services, making it urgent to fit out those ports with the essential equipment to carry out loading and unloading operations, whether of bulk cargo or containers, in a reliable and efficient manner.

3 - Approve the Resolution authorising the expenditure estimated at €547,500.00 by the Regional Cohesion and Economic Development Support Fund to procure, through a direct award procedure, the regular maritime transport of goods to the Island of Flores, on the route Ponta Delgada/Lajes das Flores, with the possibility of a call at Praia da Vitória. This public service will have a minimum frequency of one voyage every 15 days for a period of three months, with the possibility of being extended for a period of one month.

4 - Approve the Resolution amending part of the Regulations of the Integrated Employment Support Occupational Programme.

The Programme of the XIII Regional Government of the Azores advocates the creation of incentive measures for the integration into the labour market and promotion of employment.

In view of the restructuring of employment measures, namely the creation of new occupational measures, such as PROSA.QUALIFICA, it is necessary to readjust the beneficiaries of the Integrated Employment Support Programme (SEI), an occupational programme aimed at the professional and social integration of the unemployed receiving benefits. It is also important to adjust the supplementary unemployment benefits granted to these workers with low employability and vulnerable social conditions.

This programme is open to the unemployed receiving benefits, registered at the Centres for Qualification and Employment of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, who have completed the occupational activity programme, under the PROSA Programme or the PROSA.QUALIFICA Programme.

For those who have completed the PROSA Programme or the PROSA.QUALIFICA Programme, the promoting entities will pay the monthly unemployment benefits until the net amount of €650.00 is reached.

The promoting entities shall pay the contributions due on the salaries, ensuring that the beneficiaries will receive the net amount of €650.00.

The amendments now introduced by this Resolution are applicable to all applications and procedures in progress, with effect from January 1, 2023.

5 - Approve the Resolution creating a Reporting Channel within the Regional Government of the Azores that will be available on its website. It will cover all departments of the Regional Government of the Azores, as part of the administrative modernisation process and the fight against corruption.

Hence, the Regional Government guarantees the right of the reporting party to follow up on the process, anonymously, with the necessary safety, confidentiality and impartiality mechanisms.

The entities comprising the direct and indirect Regional Public Administration of the Azores shall be subject to internal or external reporting.

The Reporting Channel of the Regional Government of the Azores must ensure, in an automated manner, the forwarding of the reported information to the competent inspection entities of the Region.

In the case of an internal report, the same shall be forwarded, in an automated manner, to the concerned government department.

It is hereby established a maximum period of 15 working days for all members of the Government to proceed with the respective designation of a department representative for the Reporting Channel of the Regional Government of the Azores.

6 - Approve the Regional Implementing Decree regulating the procedures for the granting and renewal of the public utility status of legal persons operating exclusively in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Law no. 36/2021 of June 14, which approved the framework law for public utility status, introduced a reform in the procedures for the granting and renewal of public utility status. It is, therefore, necessary to adapt the procedures concerning applications for the granting and renewal of public utility status to the reality of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, ensuring a simple and swift procedure for the applicant and, simultaneously, an adequate procedure for the regional public administration.

7 - Approve a resolution authorising the signing of a programme contract between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores, S.A., with a view to regulating the promotion of the emergency protection works to the quay located in Lajes das Flores as well as the cooperation between the parties in this context.

The amount of the financial support allocated by the Autonomous Region of the Azores, under the aforementioned contract, is set at €6,500,000.00.