Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on November 13, 2024, in Furnas, municipality of Povoação, adopted the following measures:

1. Pass the Resolution approving direct financial cooperation for the application submitted by the Municipality of Velas for the "Renovation and expansion of a building to house the headquarters of the Santo Amaro Parish Council."

This financial contribution between the Regional Government and the Municipality of Velas amounts to €215,250.00.

2. Pass the Resolution approving the transfer, free of charge, of the urban building known as Solar da Glória, located at Rua da Glória ao Carmo, n.º 2, Parish of Livramento, Ponta Delgada, for 20 years, to the Luís Soares de Sousa Home, for the installation and operation of a Residential Structure for the Elderly.

As a Private Social Solidarity Institution, the Luís Soares de Sousa Hom has as its mission the promotion of support for the elderly in their own homes or by sheltering them in its residential structures, whilst respecting human dignity and fundamental rights, guaranteeing the senior population most in need of social solidarity their dignity and full exercise of citizenship.

The Luís Soares de Sousa Home has shown interest in using the property to set up a Residential Structure for the Elderly. It consists of an establishment for the collective accommodation of elderly people where nursing care is provided and social support activities are developed to contribute to the well-being and improvement of the quality of life of senior citizens. This demonstrates the convenience and public interest underpinning the provision of this property to the said institution.

3. Approve the Resolution amending the legislation implementing the granting of transitional financial support for the payment of housing loan instalments - CREDITHAB.

In the current wording of the CREDITHAB measure, it was found that the criteria established for the repayment of support, in the event of non-compliance or sale, was causing greater damage to beneficiaries who opted to change the variable interest rate to a fixed one, with a view to stabilising their instalment. It is necessary to distinguish this situation from other situations of non-compliance, without prejudice to the fact that the eligibility conditions for this measure cease with its situation.

4. Approve the Resolution revoking, by agreement, the Concession Contract for the exploitation of natural mineral water designated as "Lombadas Water" between the Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning and Public Administration and ATLANTICFALCON - Exploração de Águas, S.A.

As a series of unforeseeable situations occurred which conditioned the entire development of the work, the company ATLANTICFALCON - Exploração de Águas, S.A., had to agree with the Region on the early termination of the Concession Contract, as well as its legal and financial effects, through a fair and mutually agreed solution.

5. Pass the Resolution approving financial support to Rádio Televisão Portuguesa (RTP), S.A., with a view to improving the technical conditions of the correspondents located on the islands where RTP Açores offices are not available, in the amount of up to €200,000.00.

The Regional Government aims to continue and diversify cooperation with the Public Radio and Television Service in the Azores. It considers that the presence and coverage by audiovisual means appropriate to the new technological reality on the various islands of the Region and in the diaspora is essential to guarantee the social and multilayered expression of the archipelago's culture and society as well as its territorial cohesion.

The proper fulfilment of this goal goes beyond RTP's specific obligations and the assurance of appropriate resources, namely up-to-date technical production resources. It falls within the concept of "complementary obligations" provided for in the legal framework in force.

In this regard, RTP needs audiovisual resources to ensure that such modern and functional resources are available in certain geographical locations in the archipelago, which the Regional Government is willing to support with appropriate funding.

6. Approve the proposal for the Regional Legislative Decree implementing the family foster care scheme provided for in Decree-Law no. 139/2019 of September 16.

The foster care measure consists of entrusting a child or young person to an individual or family qualified for the purpose, ensuring their integration into a family environment and providing adequate care for their needs and well-being, including the education necessary for their full development.

This initiative begins a necessary process of adapting national legislation to the Region, creating another response to promote the rights and protection of children and young people in danger.

This measure frees up vacancies in residential care homes (currently sheltering many children up to the age of six, to whom a family fostering measure could be applied), which are struggling to accommodate children in terms of available vacancies.

7. Adopt the Regional Implementing Decree approving amendments to Regional Implementing Decree no. 27/2021/A of November 2, which approves the statutes and staff of the Institute for Food and Agricultural Markets, IPRA - IAMA.

8. Approve the Regional Regulatory Decree regulating the granting of support for the purchase of maize and sorghum seeds, intended for the production of fodder or grain maize for 2024.

The production of fodder or grain maize, through maize and sorghum crops, is environmentally and economically sustainable and is an excellent alternative for rotation with the typical Azorean pastures. It guarantees easier storage as silage, provides quick and digestible energy for cattle all year round and reduces production costs, playing a fundamental role in reducing the Region's dependence on animal feed imports and boosting the sector's resilience to the effects of climate change.

In 2022 and 2023, the measures to support the purchase of maize and sorghum seeds for the production of fodder or grain maize have already been successfully adopted to mitigate the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on agricultural markets. This support should continue for seed purchases made in 2024.

The budget limit for the support to be granted is set at €2,200,000.00.

9. Adopt the Resolution approving the increase in whale-watching tourism licences.

Whale watching is a relevant activity for the identity of tourism in the Azores, representing one of the most successful cases of sustainable development in the world, through the conversion of from an extractive economic activity (whaling) to an activity that greatly values a natural resource.

The inheritance of a vast whaling heritage and all the precautionary legislative measures that have been adopted, associated with its preservation, are essential factors in regional tourism policies, demonstrating a respectful concern for the past while evolving towards a situation of economic prosperity.

The qualitative development of maritime tourism activities, as well as the protection of the sea and its truly sustainable use, are strategic priorities included in the XIV Regional Government Programme.

The whale-watching industry stands out as one of the most important in creating value in this area. It deserves careful attention in its basic structuring with a view to future sustainability.

Therefore, it is important to issue tourist licences for whale watching on all islands, namely one more for Zone A and eight more licences for Zone C. It is proposed that Zone Z be abolished.

10. Approve the Resolution delegating to the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures the powers to procure and authorise the expenditure regarding the ‘"Works contract for the refurbishment of the metal enclosure/roofing of the São Jorge Island aerodrome, with a base price of €700,000.00, plus VAT at the legal rate in force, and a completion period of 120 days.

Investing in airport infrastructure is crucial for the Region, significantly enhancing territorial cohesion and the sustainability of the archipelago's economy.

The corrosion of the metal sheet on the São Jorge Island Aerodrome roof, the resulting leakage and the thermal discomfort created by the ridge vent, which was built in breach of the project, require swift intervention in view of the worsening damage and the danger it poses to the aerodrome users and equipment. It also results in additional energy consumption due to the inefficient insulation of the surroundings.

11. Approve the Resolution authorising the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure to approve a 50% reduction in the rates applicable to coastal cargo vessels calling weekly at ports that annually handle less than 3,000 TEU of full containers.

The Regional Government believes that a new approach to the maritime freight transport model is essential to strengthen the internal market, making it more efficient and capable of generating added value for small producers.

This Resolution will boost the inter-island maritime transport of goods, promoting and boosting the trade of perishable products.

This resolution aims to guarantee weekly calls by coastal cargo vessels to all the islands of the archipelago, reducing by 50% the rates applicable to vessels making weekly calls to ports handling less than 3,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of full containers annually.

12. Approve the Resolution creating the "Azores 9 Islands Fare."

This intermodal air and sea fare, for single use and complementary to the "Azores Fare," aims to promote the mobility of residents across the nine islands of the archipelago, instilling a sense of belonging to the Azores and providing Azoreans with an effective knowledge of the specific reality of each island. It is only available during the IATA winter season.

13. Pass the Regional Implementing Decree approving the support to be granted for the operation of the Social Employment Market.

This decree applies to a series of initiatives aimed at the social and professional integration or reintegration of the unemployed in vulnerable situations.

The document is intended to boost the employability of the long-term unemployed and those with vulnerabilities, promote their professional retraining and consolidate the integration of workers with disabilities into the labour market, in addition to distinguishing the good social practices of employers.

14. Approve the Resolution approving the financial support to be granted to Maria da Glória Cabral Arruda, within the scope of the legal-financial support scheme for climate emergencies, regarding property losses and damage resulting from the extreme weather conditions that occurred in the parish of Sete Cidades, municipality of Ponta Delgada.

On August 20, 2023, adverse weather conditions of an abnormal and unpredictable nature occurring on the island of São Miguel caused several property losses to the affected populations, namely in the parish of Sete Cidades, municipality of Ponta Delgada.

On November 14, 2023, the opening of applications for the support provided in the legal and financial scheme for climate emergency support in situations of property loss and damage arising from the extreme weather conditions referred to above was publicly announced.

The applications for climate emergency support were analysed by the review committee. Following a new evaluation of Maria da Glória Cabral Arruda's application, it is recommended that one additional application be approved for the amount of €789.75.