Presidência do Governo Regional
José Manuel Bolieiro met with EPP Coordinator in European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development
José Manuel Bolieiro met with EPP Coordinator in European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Maria João Carreiro launches tender for construction project for 32 plots in Feteiras
Maria João Carreiro launches tender for construction project for 32 plots in Feteiras
Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas
Azores move forward with Smart Tourist Flow Monitoring System
Azores move forward with Smart Tourist Flow Monitoring System
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Regional Government supports acquisition of scientific and technological equipment
Regional Government supports acquisition of scientific and technological equipment
Nota de Imprensa
July 21, 2025 José Manuel Bolieiro met with EPP Coordinator in European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, received MEP Andrey Novakov, Coordinator of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development, at an audience held at the Sant'ana Palace. The meeting focused on the theme of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework and specific policies for the Outermost Regions, with special emphasis on the importance of ensuring instruments tailored to the unique characteristics of these regions. The head of the Azorean Government emphasised the active role of the Azores in promoting their solutions, adapted to the islands' context and their status as outermost regions. "Outermost regions, such as the Azores, are not asking for exceptions; they are asking for fairness. We need policies that acknowledge our geographical and economic conditions with specific measures tailored to the reality of the territory," stated José Manuel Bolieiro. The consolidation of POSEI Agriculture, the creation of POSEI Fisheries and the implementation of POSEI Transport were highlighted as priorities to mitigate the permanent additional costs faced by the Region, both in terms of internal supply between islands and in the shipment and export of regional products. "The competitiveness of our products depends on our ability to reach markets. If we do not recognise the additional costs of transport and distance, we are not ensuring fair conditions for development," he added. The meeting took place at a time when the European Commission is preparing a new approach to Cohesion Policy. Therefore, it is essential to step up dialogue with European institutions and highlight the geostrategic role of Outermost Regions in consolidating the European Union's position in the world. Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament since 2014, elected by Bulgaria for the GERB party – Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, expressed interest and willingness to continue listening to the proposals of Outermost Regions, acknowledging the contribution of the Azores to the construction of more inclusive European policies.
July 21, 2025 José Manuel Bolieiro met with EPP Coordinator in European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, received MEP Andrey Novakov, Coordinator of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development, at an audience held at the Sant'ana Palace. The meeting focused on the theme of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework and specific policies for the Outermost Regions, with special emphasis on the importance of ensuring instruments tailored to the unique characteristics of these regions. The head of the Azorean Government emphasised the active role of the Azores in promoting their solutions, adapted to the islands' context and their status as outermost regions. "Outermost regions, such as the Azores, are not asking for exceptions; they are asking for fairness. We need policies that acknowledge our geographical and economic conditions with specific measures tailored to the reality of the territory," stated José Manuel Bolieiro. The consolidation of POSEI Agriculture, the creation of POSEI Fisheries and the implementation of POSEI Transport were highlighted as priorities to mitigate the permanent additional costs faced by the Region, both in terms of internal supply between islands and in the shipment and export of regional products. "The competitiveness of our products depends on our ability to reach markets. If we do not recognise the additional costs of transport and distance, we are not ensuring fair conditions for development," he added. The meeting took place at a time when the European Commission is preparing a new approach to Cohesion Policy. Therefore, it is essential to step up dialogue with European institutions and highlight the geostrategic role of Outermost Regions in consolidating the European Union's position in the world. Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament since 2014, elected by Bulgaria for the GERB party – Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, expressed interest and willingness to continue listening to the proposals of Outermost Regions, acknowledging the contribution of the Azores to the construction of more inclusive European policies.
Nota de Imprensa
July 21, 2025 Maria João Carreiro launches tender for construction project for 32 plots in Feteiras The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, has just awarded another works contract for the construction of new housing in the Azores, this time for the serving of 32 plots in the parish of Feteiras, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island. The plots, which are part of the Biscoito Housing Development, will be allocated to 32 families through a public tender to be launched after completion of the work and are intended for the construction of single-family houses. The project, which is now underway with a completion period of 150 days, was awarded to Caetano & Medeiros, representing an investment of 1.4 million Euros, financed under the RRP. At the ceremony of laying the first stone for this new project, which took place today, Maria João Carreiro highlighted the "positive progress made in the implementation of the RRP investment in housing." She added that 80% of the overall investment for the Region has already been implemented or is currently being implemented. "We can safely and confidently say that we are making the largest investment in public housing in the Azores," she said, pointing out that 219 new housing units are being built in Ponta Delgada alone, with a current completion rate of 80%, in parishes such as São Roque, Santa Clara, Arrifes, Covoada, Ginetes, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fenais da Luz. According to the government official, "the investment underway will ensure more housing solutions for different situations and age groups." "Our goal is to increase the public supply of housing at prices compatible with the income of middle-class Azorean families and young people, without neglecting our responsibility to low-income families in serious housing need," she explained. Maria João Carreiro recalled, however, that the early implementation of the RRP in the housing area in the Azores was challenging and demanding. This was not only due to the consequences of the striking lack of investment by socialist governments in the housing stock over a decade, but also due to the administrative and legal procedures that had to be carried out on land acquired by the Region. This is the case of the land where the Biscoito Housing Development will now be built. It was acquired by the Region in 2000, but for over two decades no development permit was ever issued for it. It was not until May 2022 that the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition government carried out the legal procedures to make that land available for the expansion of housing in the parish of Feteiras. The Regional Secretary also praised the "commitment, resilience and good work" of the Ponta Delgada City Council and its Mayor, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, in the municipal response to housing challenges. She also highlighted the "consistent cooperation" with the Regional Government to promote new housing projects and provide access to housing for those living and working in the municipality. Among other guests, the ceremony of laying the first stone was attended by the Mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral; members of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Luís Raposo, Carlos Silva, Gualberto Rita and Patrícia Miranda; the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão; and the President of the Parish Council of Feteiras, Zélia Silva.
July 21, 2025 Maria João Carreiro launches tender for construction project for 32 plots in Feteiras The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, has just awarded another works contract for the construction of new housing in the Azores, this time for the serving of 32 plots in the parish of Feteiras, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island. The plots, which are part of the Biscoito Housing Development, will be allocated to 32 families through a public tender to be launched after completion of the work and are intended for the construction of single-family houses. The project, which is now underway with a completion period of 150 days, was awarded to Caetano & Medeiros, representing an investment of 1.4 million Euros, financed under the RRP. At the ceremony of laying the first stone for this new project, which took place today, Maria João Carreiro highlighted the "positive progress made in the implementation of the RRP investment in housing." She added that 80% of the overall investment for the Region has already been implemented or is currently being implemented. "We can safely and confidently say that we are making the largest investment in public housing in the Azores," she said, pointing out that 219 new housing units are being built in Ponta Delgada alone, with a current completion rate of 80%, in parishes such as São Roque, Santa Clara, Arrifes, Covoada, Ginetes, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fenais da Luz. According to the government official, "the investment underway will ensure more housing solutions for different situations and age groups." "Our goal is to increase the public supply of housing at prices compatible with the income of middle-class Azorean families and young people, without neglecting our responsibility to low-income families in serious housing need," she explained. Maria João Carreiro recalled, however, that the early implementation of the RRP in the housing area in the Azores was challenging and demanding. This was not only due to the consequences of the striking lack of investment by socialist governments in the housing stock over a decade, but also due to the administrative and legal procedures that had to be carried out on land acquired by the Region. This is the case of the land where the Biscoito Housing Development will now be built. It was acquired by the Region in 2000, but for over two decades no development permit was ever issued for it. It was not until May 2022 that the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition government carried out the legal procedures to make that land available for the expansion of housing in the parish of Feteiras. The Regional Secretary also praised the "commitment, resilience and good work" of the Ponta Delgada City Council and its Mayor, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, in the municipal response to housing challenges. She also highlighted the "consistent cooperation" with the Regional Government to promote new housing projects and provide access to housing for those living and working in the municipality. Among other guests, the ceremony of laying the first stone was attended by the Mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral; members of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Luís Raposo, Carlos Silva, Gualberto Rita and Patrícia Miranda; the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão; and the President of the Parish Council of Feteiras, Zélia Silva.
Nota de Imprensa
July 21, 2025 Azores move forward with Smart Tourist Flow Monitoring System The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, has just awarded the contract for the creation of the Integrated Smart Monitoring System for Tourist Flows in the Azores (SIMIFTA) to the Ubiwhere/Digiwest Group. This is an innovative project primarily aimed at strengthening sustainable tourism management in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The contract for the creation of SIMIFTA was awarded for €598,990.00 (plus VAT) with a completion period of 70 days, following an international public tender. This project is aligned with the strategic targets of the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores (PEMTA 2030). It also intends to improve and modernise the management of tourist flows in the Azores. The platform will provide real-time data on tourist profiles, mobility, and visitation patterns on the nine islands. This information will be essential for supporting data-driven decisions, contributing to more sustainable and balanced tourism. The project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the Administrative Modernisation Incentive System. The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, pointed out the importance of this initiative. She stated that, with it, "the Azores are positioning themselves at the forefront of the green and digital transition in tourism, strengthening their commitment to the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the sector."
July 21, 2025 Azores move forward with Smart Tourist Flow Monitoring System The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, has just awarded the contract for the creation of the Integrated Smart Monitoring System for Tourist Flows in the Azores (SIMIFTA) to the Ubiwhere/Digiwest Group. This is an innovative project primarily aimed at strengthening sustainable tourism management in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The contract for the creation of SIMIFTA was awarded for €598,990.00 (plus VAT) with a completion period of 70 days, following an international public tender. This project is aligned with the strategic targets of the Strategic and Marketing Plan for Tourism in the Azores (PEMTA 2030). It also intends to improve and modernise the management of tourist flows in the Azores. The platform will provide real-time data on tourist profiles, mobility, and visitation patterns on the nine islands. This information will be essential for supporting data-driven decisions, contributing to more sustainable and balanced tourism. The project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the Administrative Modernisation Incentive System. The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, pointed out the importance of this initiative. She stated that, with it, "the Azores are positioning themselves at the forefront of the green and digital transition in tourism, strengthening their commitment to the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the sector."
Nota de Imprensa
July 21, 2025 Regional Government supports acquisition of scientific and technological equipment The Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Science, Innovation and Development, has launched a call for tenders for the acquisition of scientific and technological equipment by regional entities that make up the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures of Strategic Interest (RNIIIE), within the scope of Azores 2030. Applications are open until October 30, 2025, through the Balcão dos Fundos portal, with a global budget of €2,000,000.00 and a maximum amount of support per application set at €287,520.00. Non-business entities belonging to the Azores Scientific and Technological System (SCTA) that are also members of the RNIIIE are eligible. Projects must be submitted individually and demonstrate their alignment with the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Regional Specialisation (RIS3 Azores). The Regional Government thus reinforces its commitment to scientific excellence, ensuring that regional researchers have the necessary resources to carry out high-quality work. This call aims to support the acquisition of large scientific and technological equipment, sets of instruments, collections and other knowledge-based resources. These include scientific archives and data, computer and programming systems, and communication networks, among other equipment essential to research. "We want to reinforce the role of entities that apply for funding in advancing knowledge in the Region," stressed the Vice-President of the Government. For Artur Lima, "the international scientific context is increasingly demanding." Therefore, it is "essential to empower regional institutions with the means not only to continue producing excellent research but also to encourage the creation of innovative solutions." "The goal is to foster scientific competitiveness and boost the socio-economic development of the Azores," he concluded.
July 21, 2025 Regional Government supports acquisition of scientific and technological equipment The Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Science, Innovation and Development, has launched a call for tenders for the acquisition of scientific and technological equipment by regional entities that make up the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures of Strategic Interest (RNIIIE), within the scope of Azores 2030. Applications are open until October 30, 2025, through the Balcão dos Fundos portal, with a global budget of €2,000,000.00 and a maximum amount of support per application set at €287,520.00. Non-business entities belonging to the Azores Scientific and Technological System (SCTA) that are also members of the RNIIIE are eligible. Projects must be submitted individually and demonstrate their alignment with the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Regional Specialisation (RIS3 Azores). The Regional Government thus reinforces its commitment to scientific excellence, ensuring that regional researchers have the necessary resources to carry out high-quality work. This call aims to support the acquisition of large scientific and technological equipment, sets of instruments, collections and other knowledge-based resources. These include scientific archives and data, computer and programming systems, and communication networks, among other equipment essential to research. "We want to reinforce the role of entities that apply for funding in advancing knowledge in the Region," stressed the Vice-President of the Government. For Artur Lima, "the international scientific context is increasingly demanding." Therefore, it is "essential to empower regional institutions with the means not only to continue producing excellent research but also to encourage the creation of innovative solutions." "The goal is to foster scientific competitiveness and boost the socio-economic development of the Azores," he concluded.
Nota de Imprensa
July 21, 2025 Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes First Aid workshop for non-teaching staff in schools The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, accompanied by the President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, Rui Andrade, attended the launch of the First Aid workshop for non-teaching staff, which took place at the Francisco Ornelas da Câmara Basic Education School and Kindergarten in Praia da Vitória. Alonso Miguel noted that "schools are places where students, teachers and support staff spend much of their time, and where accidents or emergencies can sometimes occur. Therefore, it is essential to invest in training the school community, providing them with the knowledge they need to respond immediately, preventing complications and avoiding more serious consequences." The government official pointed out that "the focus on basic life support training and first aid falls within a coordinated strategy that the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service has been developing progressively, consistently and closely with schools" through Civil Protection Clubs, which are already present in all public schools in the Azores. According to Alonso Miguel, "this is another important step in the 'Learning to Help' project, an initiative that has established itself as a benchmark in training the educational community in emergency and first aid matters." "This is a project promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, which aims to provide students, teachers and non-teaching staff with the fundamental knowledge to respond effectively in emergencies," he continued. As part of this initiative, Alonso Miguel revealed that "for the second consecutive year, all 9th grade students in the Region received Basic Life Support training." He added that "137 sessions were held this year alone, covering 2,480 students, which means that, currently, about 5 thousand young Azoreans already have the skills to respond in critical moments, such as assisting in the event of cardiorespiratory arrest." The Regional Secretary also mentioned that, regarding the teaching staff, "first aid training was provided to more than 80 teachers, with a module dedicated to Basic Life Support, between June and July, ensuring that teaching staff are also trained to respond in case of need. The courses are approved by the Regional Directorate for Education and Cultural Affairs, with the awarding of 0.5 credits to teachers." At the opening session of the event, the Regional Secretary emphasised that "a new phase of the 'Learning to Help' project is now beginning, with the extension of training in this area to non-teaching staff, through a series of nine First Aid workshops to be held this year on five islands. They are expected to provide training to 300 professionals by September, responding to a need felt and requested by schools." "This is a step that reinforces our commitment to close, preventive and educational civil protection," he said. He concluded: “The school community is a priority for us. Students’ parents must know that, with this project, we are empowering their children, their teachers and teaching support staff to make our schools safer, thereby contributing to a better-prepared society.”
July 21, 2025 Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes First Aid workshop for non-teaching staff in schools The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, accompanied by the President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, Rui Andrade, attended the launch of the First Aid workshop for non-teaching staff, which took place at the Francisco Ornelas da Câmara Basic Education School and Kindergarten in Praia da Vitória. Alonso Miguel noted that "schools are places where students, teachers and support staff spend much of their time, and where accidents or emergencies can sometimes occur. Therefore, it is essential to invest in training the school community, providing them with the knowledge they need to respond immediately, preventing complications and avoiding more serious consequences." The government official pointed out that "the focus on basic life support training and first aid falls within a coordinated strategy that the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service has been developing progressively, consistently and closely with schools" through Civil Protection Clubs, which are already present in all public schools in the Azores. According to Alonso Miguel, "this is another important step in the 'Learning to Help' project, an initiative that has established itself as a benchmark in training the educational community in emergency and first aid matters." "This is a project promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, which aims to provide students, teachers and non-teaching staff with the fundamental knowledge to respond effectively in emergencies," he continued. As part of this initiative, Alonso Miguel revealed that "for the second consecutive year, all 9th grade students in the Region received Basic Life Support training." He added that "137 sessions were held this year alone, covering 2,480 students, which means that, currently, about 5 thousand young Azoreans already have the skills to respond in critical moments, such as assisting in the event of cardiorespiratory arrest." The Regional Secretary also mentioned that, regarding the teaching staff, "first aid training was provided to more than 80 teachers, with a module dedicated to Basic Life Support, between June and July, ensuring that teaching staff are also trained to respond in case of need. The courses are approved by the Regional Directorate for Education and Cultural Affairs, with the awarding of 0.5 credits to teachers." At the opening session of the event, the Regional Secretary emphasised that "a new phase of the 'Learning to Help' project is now beginning, with the extension of training in this area to non-teaching staff, through a series of nine First Aid workshops to be held this year on five islands. They are expected to provide training to 300 professionals by September, responding to a need felt and requested by schools." "This is a step that reinforces our commitment to close, preventive and educational civil protection," he said. He concluded: “The school community is a priority for us. Students’ parents must know that, with this project, we are empowering their children, their teachers and teaching support staff to make our schools safer, thereby contributing to a better-prepared society.”
