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Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Artur Lima highlights role of Artificial Intelligence as "catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress"
Artur Lima highlights role of Artificial Intelligence as "catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress"
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Artur Lima defends bill to ensure fair retirement age in the Azores
Artur Lima defends bill to ensure fair retirement age in the Azores
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Artur Lima highlights “coherent, informed and consistent” Plan and Budget
Artur Lima highlights “coherent, informed and consistent” Plan and Budget
December 6, 2025
Artur Lima highlights role of Artificial Intelligence as "catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress"
December 5, 2025
Artur Lima defends bill to ensure fair retirement age in the Azores
November 24, 2025
Artur Lima highlights “coherent, informed and consistent” Plan and Budget
News
Nota de Imprensa
December 6, 2025
Artur Lima highlights role of Artificial Intelligence as "catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress"
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, presided over the opening session of the "AI & Business" event on Friday, which took place at NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, in Lagoa. The event brought together companies, experts, researchers and decision-makers to discuss the progress of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the business sector. "It is events like this that demonstrate that we are evolving at a dizzying speed, and that if we fail to keep up, we will miss the boat," stated the Vice-President of the Government. In this regard, Artur Lima stressed that the Regional Government is undertaking efforts to ensure that the entire Region keeps pace with the digital transition, through profound reforms in regional IT systems, as well as promoting increased connectivity between the Azores and the world. "Technology is no longer just a tool; it has become a strategic partner in the way we think, work and create value," stated the government official. He added that "Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of this transformation, changing the way companies understand and interact with their customers, optimise processes and make decisions." However, the Vice-President stressed that Artificial Intelligence "does not replace, nor should it ever replace, human vision." This technology "intends to enhance human strategy, creativity and ethics, freeing up time and resources to innovate, solve complex problems and create value," he emphasised. Considering the current context marked by growing technological disruption, Artur Lima also noted that the companies of the future will be those capable of combining the power of data, AI technology and human sensitivity, achieving efficiency gains and flexibility to adapt to constantly changing markets. "Today, we have the opportunity and responsibility to use this technology as a catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress," he noted. During his speech, the Vice-President of the Government also expressed his confidence that the event will strengthen the relations of those present with the new AI methods and techniques. "Let us seize this moment to build smarter, more humane and better prepared companies for the future, as it is important to anticipate, provide training and empower, so that we can take action and converge," concluded Artur Lima. Organised by Nonagon - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, "AI & Business" is part of the "Training and Digital Transformation of Companies in the Azores (C16-i05-RAA)" project under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
December 6, 2025
Artur Lima highlights role of Artificial Intelligence as "catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress"
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, presided over the opening session of the "AI & Business" event on Friday, which took place at NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, in Lagoa. The event brought together companies, experts, researchers and decision-makers to discuss the progress of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the business sector. "It is events like this that demonstrate that we are evolving at a dizzying speed, and that if we fail to keep up, we will miss the boat," stated the Vice-President of the Government. In this regard, Artur Lima stressed that the Regional Government is undertaking efforts to ensure that the entire Region keeps pace with the digital transition, through profound reforms in regional IT systems, as well as promoting increased connectivity between the Azores and the world. "Technology is no longer just a tool; it has become a strategic partner in the way we think, work and create value," stated the government official. He added that "Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of this transformation, changing the way companies understand and interact with their customers, optimise processes and make decisions." However, the Vice-President stressed that Artificial Intelligence "does not replace, nor should it ever replace, human vision." This technology "intends to enhance human strategy, creativity and ethics, freeing up time and resources to innovate, solve complex problems and create value," he emphasised. Considering the current context marked by growing technological disruption, Artur Lima also noted that the companies of the future will be those capable of combining the power of data, AI technology and human sensitivity, achieving efficiency gains and flexibility to adapt to constantly changing markets. "Today, we have the opportunity and responsibility to use this technology as a catalyst for economic, social and environmental progress," he noted. During his speech, the Vice-President of the Government also expressed his confidence that the event will strengthen the relations of those present with the new AI methods and techniques. "Let us seize this moment to build smarter, more humane and better prepared companies for the future, as it is important to anticipate, provide training and empower, so that we can take action and converge," concluded Artur Lima. Organised by Nonagon - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, "AI & Business" is part of the "Training and Digital Transformation of Companies in the Azores (C16-i05-RAA)" project under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
Nota de Imprensa
December 5, 2025
Artur Lima defends bill to ensure fair retirement age in the Azores
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, considered today that the opinion of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of the National Assembly on Draft Law No. 56/XVI/1, which aims to implement the full constitutional right to social security in old age in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, was "frivolous, insulting and ill-founded." "We strongly disagree with the opinion of the Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees Committee of the National Assembly, an opinion that is frivolous, insulting to the people of the Azores and, indeed, fundamentally flawed," stated the Vice-President of the Regional Government. “We want to defend the interests of the Azorean people and workers in the Azores, who have the right to retire at the right age,” emphasised Artur Lima. He added: "We have paid our dues; we will only be fighting for our rights. This is what the Government will do from now on." During a press conference this morning in Ponta Delgada, the Vice-President stated that the President of the National Assembly and its services had accepted the regional proposal, not considering it unconstitutional, and only making a reference to the Stop Rule, “which could easily be overcome.” Artur Lima also pointed out that the request for an opinion from the Commission came from the Liberal Initiative, with the "intention of going against the rights of the Azoreans and preventing this proposal from being discussed democratically in the appropriate context, namely in the Plenary Session of the National Assembly." In this case, and depending on the outcome, it would be possible for the Autonomous Region of the Azores to appeal to the Constitutional Court. "We fight every day against the centralists of Terreiro do Paço and Mainland Portugal. The Government of the Azores will not give up fighting for the rights of the Azoreans and the rights of workers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores," he reiterated. The Region's proposal ‘intends to correct the negative discrimination that currently exists,’ and the Constitution "cannot be analysed in a fragmented manner, nor with a centralist and even bias," defended Artur Lima. The Vice-President of the Government stressed that the "Commission did not take into account several articles of the Constitution, particularly Article 229." It states that the sovereign bodies shall ensure, in cooperation with the self-governing bodies, the economic and social development of the Autonomous Regions, with a view, in particular, to correcting the inequalities arising from remoteness. "This article makes us a constitutional region with its own government, and therefore different from all other regions in the north, south and centre of Mainland Portugal," he said. Artur Lima recalled that the Azores are formally recognised as an Outermost Region of the European Union, in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. "This Article clearly states that these Regions experience permanent circumstances that justify differentiated treatment, not only economic but also material and social," he said. "These are not abstractions; they are circumstances affecting the health and future of Azorean workers," he defended. “Therefore, advocating for a pension reform scheme tailored to our reality is not asking for privileges, it is demanding that the constitutional principles governing us be also applied here, and ensuring the material equality of Article 13 of the Portuguese Constitution,” concluded the Vice-President of the Regional Government.
December 5, 2025
Artur Lima defends bill to ensure fair retirement age in the Azores
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, considered today that the opinion of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of the National Assembly on Draft Law No. 56/XVI/1, which aims to implement the full constitutional right to social security in old age in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, was "frivolous, insulting and ill-founded." "We strongly disagree with the opinion of the Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees Committee of the National Assembly, an opinion that is frivolous, insulting to the people of the Azores and, indeed, fundamentally flawed," stated the Vice-President of the Regional Government. “We want to defend the interests of the Azorean people and workers in the Azores, who have the right to retire at the right age,” emphasised Artur Lima. He added: "We have paid our dues; we will only be fighting for our rights. This is what the Government will do from now on." During a press conference this morning in Ponta Delgada, the Vice-President stated that the President of the National Assembly and its services had accepted the regional proposal, not considering it unconstitutional, and only making a reference to the Stop Rule, “which could easily be overcome.” Artur Lima also pointed out that the request for an opinion from the Commission came from the Liberal Initiative, with the "intention of going against the rights of the Azoreans and preventing this proposal from being discussed democratically in the appropriate context, namely in the Plenary Session of the National Assembly." In this case, and depending on the outcome, it would be possible for the Autonomous Region of the Azores to appeal to the Constitutional Court. "We fight every day against the centralists of Terreiro do Paço and Mainland Portugal. The Government of the Azores will not give up fighting for the rights of the Azoreans and the rights of workers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores," he reiterated. The Region's proposal ‘intends to correct the negative discrimination that currently exists,’ and the Constitution "cannot be analysed in a fragmented manner, nor with a centralist and even bias," defended Artur Lima. The Vice-President of the Government stressed that the "Commission did not take into account several articles of the Constitution, particularly Article 229." It states that the sovereign bodies shall ensure, in cooperation with the self-governing bodies, the economic and social development of the Autonomous Regions, with a view, in particular, to correcting the inequalities arising from remoteness. "This article makes us a constitutional region with its own government, and therefore different from all other regions in the north, south and centre of Mainland Portugal," he said. Artur Lima recalled that the Azores are formally recognised as an Outermost Region of the European Union, in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. "This Article clearly states that these Regions experience permanent circumstances that justify differentiated treatment, not only economic but also material and social," he said. "These are not abstractions; they are circumstances affecting the health and future of Azorean workers," he defended. “Therefore, advocating for a pension reform scheme tailored to our reality is not asking for privileges, it is demanding that the constitutional principles governing us be also applied here, and ensuring the material equality of Article 13 of the Portuguese Constitution,” concluded the Vice-President of the Regional Government.