Artur Lima highlights Azores' central Europe at the 4th Regional Meeting of European Clubs - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, emphasised today that "the Region's remoteness should not be synonymous with political, cultural and economic isolation," highlighting the importance of the Azores as a "link between continents."

"Our geostrategic position and history make us protagonists in the dialogue between countries. The Azores were crucial to the Allied victory in World War II and have been a protector of peace on the European continent for many decades," he said.

"The Azores have been and continue to be crucial for Europe's collective security. For this reason, political decision-makers in Brussels must not forget or neglect the importance of our Region as Europe's Atlantic frontier," stressed Artur Lima.

The statements were made at the opening session of the 4th Regional Meeting of European Clubs, which took place at the Capitães-Generais Palace in Angra do Heroísmo.

Organised by the Vice-Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Directorate for European Affairs and External Cooperation, the event brought together teachers responsible for the European Clubs active in the Region. It aimed to encourage the exchange of experiences and promote a greater European spirit of active citizenship among young people and the school community.

For Artur Lima, "European Clubs are more than an educational initiative. They are laboratories of active citizenship, where people learn, debate and live the dual identity of the Azores and Europe."

"In these clubs, young Azoreans discover their role in the European Union and realise that, despite being an outermost region, the Azores have a voice, strength and future," he said.

This school year, the Autonomous Region of the Azores has 23 European clubs registered with the National Club Network. European Clubs can be set up in preschool, elementary school, secondary or vocational education establishments. They are adapted to the context of the school and the community where they operate.

The Regional Meetings of European Clubs, promoted by the Regional Government, provide coordinating teachers with an opportunity to work and reflect on the activities of regional European Clubs and encourage the exchange of experiences and good practices among participants.

The 4th Regional Meeting of European Clubs was attended by Paulo Nascimento Cabral, elected member of the European Parliament, David Sousa, Director-General of Education at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, and Sandra Pereira, representative of the Jacques Delors European Information Centre.