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Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Regional Government calls for unity in Regional Parliament to enshrine rights of Azorean people
Regional Government calls for unity in Regional Parliament to enshrine rights of Azorean people
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Registration for Journalism and Artificial Intelligence training courses opens today
Registration for Journalism and Artificial Intelligence training courses opens today
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Regional Government more than doubles support for private media and maintains sector as democratic priority
Regional Government more than doubles support for private media and maintains sector as democratic priority
February 26, 2026
Regional Government calls for unity in Regional Parliament to enshrine rights of Azorean people
February 25, 2026
Registration for Journalism and Artificial Intelligence training courses opens today
February 24, 2026
Regional Government more than doubles support for private media and maintains sector as democratic priority
News
Nota de Imprensa
February 26, 2026
Regional Government calls for unity in Regional Parliament to enshrine rights of Azorean people
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, called today for the convergence of all political forces at the Azorean parliament to definitively halt the recent tax and contribution requirements imposed by the State on the Region regarding citizens' access to the social mobility aid. In his speech in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, during an urgent debate proposed by the Social Democratic Party, Paulo Estêvão stressed that this is the time to put democratic plurality at the service of Autonomy, joining forces to reach a consensus on the various proposals currently under discussion at the National Assembly. "I call for the Azorean Parliament to remain united on these issues, because the truth is that the Azorean Parliament has emerged stronger on this matter," stressed the government official. In this regard, he recalled the unanimity reached over a draft bill on the subject that was submitted to the National Parliament, but whose urgency was rejected by the Socialist and CHEGA parties. Despite the natural differences in political debate, the government official outlined the Government's action, recalling that the Azorean Government was the first entity to put forward a formal initiative to abolish these impositions. He also reiterated that there had always been "firmness and determination" on the part of the President of the Regional Government in the uncompromising defence of the archipelago's interests in the face of "centralist tendencies." The Regional Secretary also pointed out that the union of the Azores' self-governing bodies has recently succeeded in reversing restrictive interpretations by the National Government, mentioning the example of safeguarding the rights of foreign citizens residing in the Region, including their access to mobility aid. The Azorean Government's goal will now be to combine proposals from the Azores, Madeira and different parliamentary groups in Lisbon to form a strong majority at the national parliament. "We have a unique opportunity. We have a majority at the National Assembly, and we must harness it to make our autonomous will prevail and ensure that the legislation is upheld," Paulo Estêvão defended, expressing the Regional Government's willingness to reach a consensus. In the Government's view, the legislative amendment currently underway should also clearly correct the actual terminology used by the State, rejecting welfare-oriented terminology. Paulo Estêvão was adamant in clarifying the concept: "It cannot be called a subsidy. It has to do with territorial cohesion and territorial compensation mechanisms. It is a constitutional right and an obligation of the Portuguese State, and that is how it must be designated in the legislation that we manage to agree on," he concluded.
February 26, 2026
Regional Government calls for unity in Regional Parliament to enshrine rights of Azorean people
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, called today for the convergence of all political forces at the Azorean parliament to definitively halt the recent tax and contribution requirements imposed by the State on the Region regarding citizens' access to the social mobility aid. In his speech in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, during an urgent debate proposed by the Social Democratic Party, Paulo Estêvão stressed that this is the time to put democratic plurality at the service of Autonomy, joining forces to reach a consensus on the various proposals currently under discussion at the National Assembly. "I call for the Azorean Parliament to remain united on these issues, because the truth is that the Azorean Parliament has emerged stronger on this matter," stressed the government official. In this regard, he recalled the unanimity reached over a draft bill on the subject that was submitted to the National Parliament, but whose urgency was rejected by the Socialist and CHEGA parties. Despite the natural differences in political debate, the government official outlined the Government's action, recalling that the Azorean Government was the first entity to put forward a formal initiative to abolish these impositions. He also reiterated that there had always been "firmness and determination" on the part of the President of the Regional Government in the uncompromising defence of the archipelago's interests in the face of "centralist tendencies." The Regional Secretary also pointed out that the union of the Azores' self-governing bodies has recently succeeded in reversing restrictive interpretations by the National Government, mentioning the example of safeguarding the rights of foreign citizens residing in the Region, including their access to mobility aid. The Azorean Government's goal will now be to combine proposals from the Azores, Madeira and different parliamentary groups in Lisbon to form a strong majority at the national parliament. "We have a unique opportunity. We have a majority at the National Assembly, and we must harness it to make our autonomous will prevail and ensure that the legislation is upheld," Paulo Estêvão defended, expressing the Regional Government's willingness to reach a consensus. In the Government's view, the legislative amendment currently underway should also clearly correct the actual terminology used by the State, rejecting welfare-oriented terminology. Paulo Estêvão was adamant in clarifying the concept: "It cannot be called a subsidy. It has to do with territorial cohesion and territorial compensation mechanisms. It is a constitutional right and an obligation of the Portuguese State, and that is how it must be designated in the legislation that we manage to agree on," he concluded.
Nota de Imprensa
February 25, 2026
Registration for Journalism and Artificial Intelligence training courses opens today
Registration is now open for a new training course for journalists on "Journalism and Artificial Intelligence." Like similar initiatives in 2025, the course is developed and accredited by the Protocol Centre for Professional Training for Journalists (CENJOR). This initiative, part of a series of responses implemented by the Regional Government in the media sector, will take place in a hybrid format – online and in person – during March. The online component will take place on March 3, 10, 17 and 24, while the in-person sessions will be held on March 20 and 21 in Ponta Delgada. Registration is open until Sunday, March 1. Registrations can be made via the website of CENJOR - Protocol Centre for Professional Training for Journalists, available at: https://portal.cenjor.pt/courseaction/subscribe/2468.personal. The training will be conducted by Ana Pinto Martinho, a journalist specialising in information and communication technologies, who is also, among other activities, a lecturer at ISCTE ( University Institute of Lisbon), and Paulo Agostinho, a staff member at the Lusa news agency, where he has been an editor in various areas, and a lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, ISCTE and ISEC (higher education institute) in the fields of journalism, media literacy and new technologies. This course follows on from the success of two training courses held in 2025, focused on economic journalism and journalism in disaster scenarios, which were attended by more than 40 professionals from the sector. The Regional Government intends to continue improving the qualifications of journalists by providing training, completely free of charge, to all journalists residing in the Azores, including professionals from both the private and public sectors (RTP, Antena 1, and the Lusa news agency). With a view to ensuring territorial cohesion and equal access, the Regional Government provides travel and accommodation for journalists outside São Miguel, ensuring vacancies for professionals from all islands, including Flores and Corvo. The programme content was defined in conjunction with CENJOR and the Regional Board of the Azorean Journalists' Union, a strategic partner in this project. Any requests for clarification can be sent to CENJOR, via email at [email protected], or to the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities. This training is one of the four fundamental axes of the “Plan for the Azorean Media,” created by the Regional Government of the Azores to support the sector. The plan also includes the Media Incentive System (SIM), the purchase of institutional advertising packages from newspapers and radio stations, and the subscription of publications acquired by the Region, for distribution in schools and Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS).
February 25, 2026
Registration for Journalism and Artificial Intelligence training courses opens today
Registration is now open for a new training course for journalists on "Journalism and Artificial Intelligence." Like similar initiatives in 2025, the course is developed and accredited by the Protocol Centre for Professional Training for Journalists (CENJOR). This initiative, part of a series of responses implemented by the Regional Government in the media sector, will take place in a hybrid format – online and in person – during March. The online component will take place on March 3, 10, 17 and 24, while the in-person sessions will be held on March 20 and 21 in Ponta Delgada. Registration is open until Sunday, March 1. Registrations can be made via the website of CENJOR - Protocol Centre for Professional Training for Journalists, available at: https://portal.cenjor.pt/courseaction/subscribe/2468.personal. The training will be conducted by Ana Pinto Martinho, a journalist specialising in information and communication technologies, who is also, among other activities, a lecturer at ISCTE ( University Institute of Lisbon), and Paulo Agostinho, a staff member at the Lusa news agency, where he has been an editor in various areas, and a lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, ISCTE and ISEC (higher education institute) in the fields of journalism, media literacy and new technologies. This course follows on from the success of two training courses held in 2025, focused on economic journalism and journalism in disaster scenarios, which were attended by more than 40 professionals from the sector. The Regional Government intends to continue improving the qualifications of journalists by providing training, completely free of charge, to all journalists residing in the Azores, including professionals from both the private and public sectors (RTP, Antena 1, and the Lusa news agency). With a view to ensuring territorial cohesion and equal access, the Regional Government provides travel and accommodation for journalists outside São Miguel, ensuring vacancies for professionals from all islands, including Flores and Corvo. The programme content was defined in conjunction with CENJOR and the Regional Board of the Azorean Journalists' Union, a strategic partner in this project. Any requests for clarification can be sent to CENJOR, via email at [email protected], or to the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities. This training is one of the four fundamental axes of the “Plan for the Azorean Media,” created by the Regional Government of the Azores to support the sector. The plan also includes the Media Incentive System (SIM), the purchase of institutional advertising packages from newspapers and radio stations, and the subscription of publications acquired by the Region, for distribution in schools and Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS).