Email:
Phone:
Fax:
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
“Azores lead by example in Marine Protected Areas, but the EU must protect the regional fishing sector,” stresses Artur Lima
“Azores lead by example in Marine Protected Areas, but the EU must protect the regional fishing sector,” stresses Artur Lima
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Artur Lima supports Autonomous Regions in opposition to National Government centralism
Artur Lima supports Autonomous Regions in opposition to National Government centralism
Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional
Regional realities must be valued in European Union policies, advocates Artur Lima
Regional realities must be valued in European Union policies, advocates Artur Lima
March 5, 2026
“Azores lead by example in Marine Protected Areas, but the EU must protect the regional fishing sector,” stresses Artur Lima
February 27, 2026
Artur Lima supports Autonomous Regions in opposition to National Government centralism
February 20, 2026
Regional realities must be valued in European Union policies, advocates Artur Lima
News
Nota de Imprensa
March 5, 2026
“Azores lead by example in Marine Protected Areas, but the EU must protect the regional fishing sector,” stresses Artur Lima
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, defended today in Brussels that the European Union (EU) "must protect the fisheries sector and fishers" in the Region following the creation of the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic. Artur Lima spoke at the event "What do European Citizens know and think about Marine Protected Areas," hosted by MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral at the European Parliament in Brussels. "The Azores have a history intertwined with the sea since the 15th and 16th centuries. The sea is our home, and we are working hard to preserve it. For us, the sea is of the utmost importance, and protecting it is vital," stated the Vice-President of the Government. “The Azores Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) accounts for 30% of the European Union’s EEZ, making it the third largest in the EU and almost 60% of the Portuguese EEZ,” he pointed out, adding that the Region “focuses its efforts on research and the protection of marine biodiversity.” "The Azores lead by example. We were bold in creating the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic, but it is important that the EU takes measures to protect fisheries and fishers in the Azores," stressed the government official. "Our sea adds value and dimension to continental Europe. Let us not forget that the Azores are the westernmost point of Europe and represent the last western border that must be carefully protected and preserved," he pointed out. The Vice-President mentioned the international recognition that the archipelago has achieved, pointing out the recently awarded international "Peter Benchley Ocean Awards" in the "Excellence in National Leadership" category. Artur Lima also addressed the issue of ocean pollution, stressing that “Outermost Regions are not the cause. In the Azores, we are, to a certain extent, paying for the mistakes of others.” The Vice-President's official trip to Brussels included participation in the 170th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions, during which an opinion on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 was approved. During the session, amendments to the document supported by the Autonomous Region of the Azores were approved. These are aimed at ensuring recognition of the structural constraints faced by European islands, as well as the outermost status recognised in Article 346 of the TFEU.
March 5, 2026
“Azores lead by example in Marine Protected Areas, but the EU must protect the regional fishing sector,” stresses Artur Lima
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, defended today in Brussels that the European Union (EU) "must protect the fisheries sector and fishers" in the Region following the creation of the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic. Artur Lima spoke at the event "What do European Citizens know and think about Marine Protected Areas," hosted by MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral at the European Parliament in Brussels. "The Azores have a history intertwined with the sea since the 15th and 16th centuries. The sea is our home, and we are working hard to preserve it. For us, the sea is of the utmost importance, and protecting it is vital," stated the Vice-President of the Government. “The Azores Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) accounts for 30% of the European Union’s EEZ, making it the third largest in the EU and almost 60% of the Portuguese EEZ,” he pointed out, adding that the Region “focuses its efforts on research and the protection of marine biodiversity.” "The Azores lead by example. We were bold in creating the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic, but it is important that the EU takes measures to protect fisheries and fishers in the Azores," stressed the government official. "Our sea adds value and dimension to continental Europe. Let us not forget that the Azores are the westernmost point of Europe and represent the last western border that must be carefully protected and preserved," he pointed out. The Vice-President mentioned the international recognition that the archipelago has achieved, pointing out the recently awarded international "Peter Benchley Ocean Awards" in the "Excellence in National Leadership" category. Artur Lima also addressed the issue of ocean pollution, stressing that “Outermost Regions are not the cause. In the Azores, we are, to a certain extent, paying for the mistakes of others.” The Vice-President's official trip to Brussels included participation in the 170th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions, during which an opinion on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 was approved. During the session, amendments to the document supported by the Autonomous Region of the Azores were approved. These are aimed at ensuring recognition of the structural constraints faced by European islands, as well as the outermost status recognised in Article 346 of the TFEU.
Nota de Imprensa
February 27, 2026
Artur Lima supports Autonomous Regions in opposition to National Government centralism
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, defended today in Lisbon the position of the Azores and Madeira against the "late, stagnant and unacceptable centralism" of the National Government. For the Vice-President, "relations between the National Government and the Governments of the Autonomous Regions cannot always be a laborious and difficult task. This is what is happening with the so-called Social Mobility Aid. In these cases, it is best to take drastic measures to settle the matter, and that is what the Governments of the Azores and Madeira must do.” "The Autonomous Regions must be respected democratically. We must uphold them, only requiring the intervention of the National Government when it comes to its constitutional duties," he stressed. Artur Lima stated that “the National Government is not doing the Azores any favours with the Public Service Obligations (PSOs),” adding that the Region “must be respected, something that has not been the case with the Social Mobility Aid and the PSOs.” "We have to fight tooth and nail for what is our right, from this National Government led by the PSD and CDS-PP parties, and that saddens and angers me. They are not doing us any favours," stated the government official. In this regard, the Autonomous Region of the Azores "must become truly more autonomous and less dependent on the whims and moods of the National Government," he said. "This is achieved by strengthening ourselves by uniting internally from Santa Maria to Corvo. Azorean identity is lived in the diaspora, but it must also be lived within the Azores," stressed the Vice-President of the Government. “If we want to reduce our dependence on Lisbon and PSOs, we must be resilient. The liberalisation of airspace has been positive for tourism in the Region, and a decade later, it is time to consider liberalising the entire airspace of the Azores,” he noted. "The Azores should demand due compensation from the National Government for the archipelago's geostrategic position, for Portugal being in NATO at our expense, for having the Santa Maria FIR at our expense, and for having the Exclusive Economic Zone at the expense of the Azores and Madeira," he added. At the launch of the new Terceira - Funchal route at the Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market in Lisbon, the Vice-President of the Government considered that "SATA has made a great contribution and set a great example of decentralisation by promoting another route between the Azores and Madeira." The new operation "brings added value to the Azores and contributes both to internal cohesion and to cohesion between the Autonomous Regions, which is essential," emphasised Artur Lima. The new route between Terceira Island and Funchal will operate from May to October 2026, with one flight per week on Thursdays, increasing to two flights per week between June and September.
February 27, 2026
Artur Lima supports Autonomous Regions in opposition to National Government centralism
The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, defended today in Lisbon the position of the Azores and Madeira against the "late, stagnant and unacceptable centralism" of the National Government. For the Vice-President, "relations between the National Government and the Governments of the Autonomous Regions cannot always be a laborious and difficult task. This is what is happening with the so-called Social Mobility Aid. In these cases, it is best to take drastic measures to settle the matter, and that is what the Governments of the Azores and Madeira must do.” "The Autonomous Regions must be respected democratically. We must uphold them, only requiring the intervention of the National Government when it comes to its constitutional duties," he stressed. Artur Lima stated that “the National Government is not doing the Azores any favours with the Public Service Obligations (PSOs),” adding that the Region “must be respected, something that has not been the case with the Social Mobility Aid and the PSOs.” "We have to fight tooth and nail for what is our right, from this National Government led by the PSD and CDS-PP parties, and that saddens and angers me. They are not doing us any favours," stated the government official. In this regard, the Autonomous Region of the Azores "must become truly more autonomous and less dependent on the whims and moods of the National Government," he said. "This is achieved by strengthening ourselves by uniting internally from Santa Maria to Corvo. Azorean identity is lived in the diaspora, but it must also be lived within the Azores," stressed the Vice-President of the Government. “If we want to reduce our dependence on Lisbon and PSOs, we must be resilient. The liberalisation of airspace has been positive for tourism in the Region, and a decade later, it is time to consider liberalising the entire airspace of the Azores,” he noted. "The Azores should demand due compensation from the National Government for the archipelago's geostrategic position, for Portugal being in NATO at our expense, for having the Santa Maria FIR at our expense, and for having the Exclusive Economic Zone at the expense of the Azores and Madeira," he added. At the launch of the new Terceira - Funchal route at the Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market in Lisbon, the Vice-President of the Government considered that "SATA has made a great contribution and set a great example of decentralisation by promoting another route between the Azores and Madeira." The new operation "brings added value to the Azores and contributes both to internal cohesion and to cohesion between the Autonomous Regions, which is essential," emphasised Artur Lima. The new route between Terceira Island and Funchal will operate from May to October 2026, with one flight per week on Thursdays, increasing to two flights per week between June and September.