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Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Paulo Estêvão welcomes Azores’ inclusion as full member of Interministerial Working Group on Space
Paulo Estêvão welcomes Azores’ inclusion as full member of Interministerial Working Group on Space
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum
Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum
Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
“Guide to Hiring Foreign Workers in the Azores” launched
“Guide to Hiring Foreign Workers in the Azores” launched
April 10, 2026
Paulo Estêvão welcomes Azores’ inclusion as full member of Interministerial Working Group on Space
April 8, 2026
Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum
March 31, 2026
“Guide to Hiring Foreign Workers in the Azores” launched
News
Nota de Imprensa
April 10, 2026
Paulo Estêvão welcomes Azores’ inclusion as full member of Interministerial Working Group on Space
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, welcomed the official inclusion of the Autonomous Region of the Azores as a full member of the new Interministerial Working Group on Space. The new structure of this national coordination body was made official through Order no. 4643/2026, published in the Official Gazette. It ensures the direct participation of the Regional Government of the Azores (and Madeira) in all meetings and strategic decision-making processes. The published decree justifies the inclusion of the autonomous regions due to the “geostrategic importance of the Atlantic islands in the national and European context.” The document clearly acknowledges that “the Azores’ position in the Atlantic provides a point of access and return for space activities of great geostrategic significance, something that is recognised internationally.” For the Regional Secretary, who oversees the space sector within the Regional Government, this active presence in European and national decision-making bodies – particularly in coordinating positions with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union – is already yielding practical benefits of enormous significance for the archipelago. “Our involvement has already yielded a tangible result: progress towards the construction of the Santa Maria Space Technology Centre, which will be used to land unmanned spacecraft,” noted Paulo Estêvão. This flagship project for the island of Santa Maria, developed in collaboration with ESA, represents an overall investment of about €15 million (with €3 million from the Azorean Government). Full integration into this Working Group consolidates the comprehensive strategy pursued by the Regional Government for the development of the regional space ecosystem. The aim is not merely to create infrastructures, but to develop local talent. One example of this is the recent agreement reached with the University of the Azores to establish a cooperation agreement aimed at training qualified personnel in the aerospace technology and research fields. Alongside higher education, this department has been focusing on engaging young people in scientific literacy. This is reflected in the record number of 40 Azorean students selected this year for the 5th edition of the Portuguese Space Agency’s national programme “Astronaut for a Day," whose parabolic flight will be carried out again from Santa Maria Island next September. The Government of the Azores, therefore, reiterates its commitment to strengthening the regional space ecosystem. It will work in close collaboration with the Portuguese Government and international partners to attract investment, create highly skilled jobs and consolidate state-of-the-art technological infrastructures in the Region, ensuring that future generations of Azoreans have real career opportunities in the aerospace sector.
April 10, 2026
Paulo Estêvão welcomes Azores’ inclusion as full member of Interministerial Working Group on Space
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, welcomed the official inclusion of the Autonomous Region of the Azores as a full member of the new Interministerial Working Group on Space. The new structure of this national coordination body was made official through Order no. 4643/2026, published in the Official Gazette. It ensures the direct participation of the Regional Government of the Azores (and Madeira) in all meetings and strategic decision-making processes. The published decree justifies the inclusion of the autonomous regions due to the “geostrategic importance of the Atlantic islands in the national and European context.” The document clearly acknowledges that “the Azores’ position in the Atlantic provides a point of access and return for space activities of great geostrategic significance, something that is recognised internationally.” For the Regional Secretary, who oversees the space sector within the Regional Government, this active presence in European and national decision-making bodies – particularly in coordinating positions with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union – is already yielding practical benefits of enormous significance for the archipelago. “Our involvement has already yielded a tangible result: progress towards the construction of the Santa Maria Space Technology Centre, which will be used to land unmanned spacecraft,” noted Paulo Estêvão. This flagship project for the island of Santa Maria, developed in collaboration with ESA, represents an overall investment of about €15 million (with €3 million from the Azorean Government). Full integration into this Working Group consolidates the comprehensive strategy pursued by the Regional Government for the development of the regional space ecosystem. The aim is not merely to create infrastructures, but to develop local talent. One example of this is the recent agreement reached with the University of the Azores to establish a cooperation agreement aimed at training qualified personnel in the aerospace technology and research fields. Alongside higher education, this department has been focusing on engaging young people in scientific literacy. This is reflected in the record number of 40 Azorean students selected this year for the 5th edition of the Portuguese Space Agency’s national programme “Astronaut for a Day," whose parabolic flight will be carried out again from Santa Maria Island next September. The Government of the Azores, therefore, reiterates its commitment to strengthening the regional space ecosystem. It will work in close collaboration with the Portuguese Government and international partners to attract investment, create highly skilled jobs and consolidate state-of-the-art technological infrastructures in the Region, ensuring that future generations of Azoreans have real career opportunities in the aerospace sector.
Nota de Imprensa
April 8, 2026
Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, chaired the opening session of the 4th Migration Forum today on the island of Corvo, highlighting the deep-rooted migratory history of the Azorean people and the “integration and tolerance” shown towards those arriving on the nine islands. The event, which runs until Friday and also covers the island of Flores, focuses on the challenges and opportunities of human mobility, placing the Autonomous Region of the Azores at the forefront of reception policies in the Outermost Regions. Speaking via video link from Lisbon, Paulo Estêvão drew a historical parallel between the waves of Azorean emigration to various destinations – and their vital importance for the islands’ development – and the current flows of foreign citizens seeking to settle in the archipelago. For the Regional Secretary, the answer is clear: “integration and tolerance” are the values that best “describe the Azorean people." Considering the specific situation on the island of Corvo, Paulo Estêvão acknowledged the ongoing challenge of declining population numbers. Nevertheless, he was keen to praise the “remarkable integration efforts” of immigrants who choose to live on the smallest island of the Azores. The government official pragmatically acknowledged the structural challenges to be overcome, such as access to housing. In this regard, he identified this as a factor that hinders both young Azoreans and the immigrant population from settling in the Region, reiterating the Government’s commitment to reversing this trend. In his speech, the Secretary for Communities also emphasised the crucial importance of legalising the status of foreign residents in the archipelago. This is an ongoing endeavour undertaken by the Regional Government, driven by coordinated efforts with AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, and with leading social partners working on the ground, such as the Association of Immigrants in the Azores (AIPA) and CRESAÇOR. Under the theme “Migration in the Atlantic Outermost Regions: Challenges, Opportunities and the Future of Human Mobility in the Outermost Regions,” the forum brings together experts, academics, public bodies and civil society organisations. The event will be attended by prominent national and international figures, namely Pedro Portugal Gaspar, President of the Board of Directors of AIMA, and Vasco Malta, Head of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Portugal. The debate is further enriched by the insights of those working on the ground. It will feature local representatives from the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, alongside teachers, the President of the Flores Secondary School Board, and representatives from the Santa Cruz Municipal Council. Following on from the three previous editions, held on the islands of Faial, Pico, São Miguel and Terceira between 2023 and 2025, the 4th Migration Forum confirms the Azorean Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting dialogue, cooperation and inclusion. The event, thus, consolidates the Region’s role as a true bridge linking communities, cultures and territories, capable of transforming the challenges of geographical isolation into innovative and inclusive reception practices.
April 8, 2026
Paulo Estêvão praises “integration and tolerance” of Azoreans at opening of 4th Migration Forum
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, chaired the opening session of the 4th Migration Forum today on the island of Corvo, highlighting the deep-rooted migratory history of the Azorean people and the “integration and tolerance” shown towards those arriving on the nine islands. The event, which runs until Friday and also covers the island of Flores, focuses on the challenges and opportunities of human mobility, placing the Autonomous Region of the Azores at the forefront of reception policies in the Outermost Regions. Speaking via video link from Lisbon, Paulo Estêvão drew a historical parallel between the waves of Azorean emigration to various destinations – and their vital importance for the islands’ development – and the current flows of foreign citizens seeking to settle in the archipelago. For the Regional Secretary, the answer is clear: “integration and tolerance” are the values that best “describe the Azorean people." Considering the specific situation on the island of Corvo, Paulo Estêvão acknowledged the ongoing challenge of declining population numbers. Nevertheless, he was keen to praise the “remarkable integration efforts” of immigrants who choose to live on the smallest island of the Azores. The government official pragmatically acknowledged the structural challenges to be overcome, such as access to housing. In this regard, he identified this as a factor that hinders both young Azoreans and the immigrant population from settling in the Region, reiterating the Government’s commitment to reversing this trend. In his speech, the Secretary for Communities also emphasised the crucial importance of legalising the status of foreign residents in the archipelago. This is an ongoing endeavour undertaken by the Regional Government, driven by coordinated efforts with AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, and with leading social partners working on the ground, such as the Association of Immigrants in the Azores (AIPA) and CRESAÇOR. Under the theme “Migration in the Atlantic Outermost Regions: Challenges, Opportunities and the Future of Human Mobility in the Outermost Regions,” the forum brings together experts, academics, public bodies and civil society organisations. The event will be attended by prominent national and international figures, namely Pedro Portugal Gaspar, President of the Board of Directors of AIMA, and Vasco Malta, Head of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Portugal. The debate is further enriched by the insights of those working on the ground. It will feature local representatives from the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, alongside teachers, the President of the Flores Secondary School Board, and representatives from the Santa Cruz Municipal Council. Following on from the three previous editions, held on the islands of Faial, Pico, São Miguel and Terceira between 2023 and 2025, the 4th Migration Forum confirms the Azorean Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting dialogue, cooperation and inclusion. The event, thus, consolidates the Region’s role as a true bridge linking communities, cultures and territories, capable of transforming the challenges of geographical isolation into innovative and inclusive reception practices.