Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government promotes webinars under “Digital Islands” project
Applications for Estagiar Europa programme open until November 14
Vice-President of the Government received in audience Vice-Governor of Santa Catarina
The Regional Directorate for European Affairs and External Cooperation operates under the Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government of the Azores.
Welcome to the Regional Directorate for European Affairs and External Cooperation.
We are the department of the Regional Government of the Azores responsible for conducting the European and external policies pursued by the Azores.
At a European level, we carry out two essential tasks. Firstly, we are responsible for monitoring, coordinating, consulting and overseeing the European affairs that fall under the direct responsibility of specific governmental departments, such as Agriculture, Fisheries, Transport, Taxes, etc.
Secondly, we play an active role in the European interregional cooperation, with special emphasis on the Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions and the cooperation in the context of the Macaronesia area.
As regards External Cooperation, we seek to promote and enhance the Atlantic centrality of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and its integration into the International Relations system. Accordingly, we privilege the Region's position in the context of the Transatlantic Relationship and particularly its relations with the United States. Furthermore, we focus on the Region's cooperation with other infra-state and even state entities outside the European space, namely with Cape Verde as well as with Member States and Provinces of the United States, Canada and Brazil, in particular.
January 30, 2026
Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government promotes webinars under “Digital Islands” project
The Vice-Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Directorate for European Affairs and External Cooperation (DRAECE), is organising two webinars as part of the project "Digital Islands - Digital Solutions to Empower Island Communities." The first webinar will take place on February 5. It will focus on the theme "E-Governance on the Islands: Architecture for the implementation of digital public services," while the second webinar, entitled "Digital services and communication on the Islands - Access, skills and connectivity," will take place on February 26. Those interested in participating can register at https://turtlco.com/webinar/, where they can also consult the programme and further information. These webinars are part of a series of six online seminars dedicated to e-Governance topics (electronic governance – using information and communication technologies to improve the provision of public services), Cybersecurity and e-Health (digital health – digital tools and solutions that help improve people's health and quality of life). These webinars will cover topics related to e-Health, such as hybrid care, data interoperability, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and digital risks; e-H: digital services for citizens/businesses, interoperability, digital identities, administrative capacity, data for decision-making in the field of e-Governance, and, within the scope of Cybersecurity, training and capacity building, incident response, policies and compliance (e.g. NIS2) and public-private coordination. Several regional island entities are partners in the project, namely Fryslân (Netherlands); Mallorca, Balearic Islands (Spain); Réunion (France); Åland Islands (Finland); Mayotte (France); South Aegean Region (Greece); Cres-Lošinj Islands (Croatia) and Madeira.
November 2, 2025
Applications for Estagiar Europa programme open until November 14
Applications for the allocation of a grant for a traineeship at the Representation Office of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Brussels are open from November 3 to 14, pursuant to the Order No. 2420/2025, issued by the Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima, published in the Official Journal on October 31. This traineeship, which is part of the Estagiar Europe programme, lasts twelve months and includes a monthly grant of €2,000 to help cover accommodation and food expenses during the training period. The trainee will also be covered by insurance and will be provided with a round-trip flight ticket between the island of residence in the Azores and the location of the traineeship in Brussels. Eligible candidates must be aged 30 or under at the beginning of the traineeship. They are also required to have completed secondary or university education in the Region, and hold a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. The selection criteria for applicants include curriculum assessment, a written knowledge test, a foreign language test in English or French, depending on the applicant's choice, and a selection interview. The Estagiar Europa programme aims to promote greater knowledge among young people about the organisation and functioning of the European Union, strengthening their social and professional skills. It encourages the recruitment and integration of young people into European institutions and entities with relevant knowledge of the Region. Furthermore, it promotes the representation of the Region through European and international cooperation services, defending regional interests in various areas of foreign affairs. The Estagiar Europa programme aims to promote greater knowledge among young people about the organisation and functioning of the European Union, strengthening their social and professional skills. Furthermore, it encourages the recruitment and integration of young people into European institutions and entities with relevant knowledge of the Region, as well as the representation of the Region through European and international cooperation services, defending regional interests in various areas of foreign affairs. All information regarding this programme and the respective application form can be found on the Government Portal at https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/draece/estagiar-europa. Those interested in obtaining more information should contact the Regional Directorate for European Affairs and External Cooperation by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 296 204 700.