Azorean Government strengthens commitment to supporting media and the diaspora in 2027 Budget - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities (SRAPC), Paulo Estêvão, participated in the round of statutory hearings dedicated to the discussion of the proposals for the Annual Regional Plan (PRA) and the Budget of the Autonomous Region of the Azores for 2027 that took place at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA). 

During a day marked by hearings with specialised committees – namely the Permanent Specialised Committee on General Policy (CPG) and the Permanent Specialised Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the Environment and Sustainable Development (CAPADS) – the Regional Secretary outlined the strategic and financial framework under his remit, placing particular emphasis on policies supporting the media, the promotion of the diaspora, and the efficiency of institutional relations with the Parliament and local authorities.

At the heart of his address to the members of CAPADS, the Regional Secretary highlighted the overall investment of €4.5 million allocated in the 2027 Plan for the diaspora and the media, emphasising the commitment to the sustainability of the private media sector, technological transition and the Region’s international presence.

The Regional Secretary placed particular emphasis on the public launch and implementation of ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Association), a strategic project supported by the Regional Government aimed at strengthening and enhancing the flow of information between the regional media and diaspora organisations.

Paulo Estevão emphasised that the Region no longer communicates solely with its 244,000 residents, but with a global community estimated at around five million Azoreans and people of Azorean descent. In this regard, he clarified that, although the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities had “supported the creation of the portal, provided facilities and supplied equipment, the Government exercises no editorial control whatsoever, with the publication of news being entirely based on journalistic autonomy and freedom.”

Also in this area, the government official highlighted the continuation of the programme for the distribution of newspapers (both digital and print formats) to schools and Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) in the Region as an essential tool for promoting civic literacy and combating disinformation, as well as the development of vocational training initiatives promoted by CENJOR in collaboration with the Regional Section of the Journalists’ Union.

In addition, the Regional Secretary addressed the progress of the SIM Programme (Media Incentive Scheme). Explaining the development of this measure – which has grown from allocations of around half a million euros in previous years to an expenditure of €1.77 million last year – the government official noted that the projection for 2026 will be around €1 million, reflecting the natural adaptation to the pace of modernisation within the media.

In this regard, Paulo Estêvão called on the parliament to begin an in-depth dialogue as early as next year with a view to readjusting the Programme, thereby ensuring greater and better levels of implementation by private media outlets.

Regarding the Public Radio and Television Service, the government official advocated channelling specific support towards content of strategic importance to the Region – highlighting, as an example, the production of documentaries by RTP/Açores as part of the celebrations marking the 600th anniversary of the discovery and settlement of the Azores.

Furthermore, the Regional Secretary highlighted the expansion of the network of the Houses of the Azores (which is set to grow from 15 centres in 2020 to 23 in 2026), the increase in Portuguese language courses for foreigners, and institutional coordination with the new AIMA management to renew the agreement with RIAC, noting the full integration of Azoreans into the “Returning” programme.

In the area of institutional relations between the Regional Government and the Legislative Assembly, the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities drew attention to the exponential increase in activity and the demands placed on the processing of parliamentary requests.

The government official explained that, whilst the average stood at 21 applications per month (between 2016 and 2020), the current volume stands at an average of 33 requests per month, with a simultaneous increase in complexity from an average of 4 to 12 questions per request. This is placing considerable pressure on the Regional Public Administration’s services.

With regard to Local Government, the Regional Secretary highlighted the Government’s ongoing commitment to working closely with local authorities, pointing to an overall allocation of €8.7 million, which includes €143,000 directly allocated to parishes and over €7.4 million channelled through the Azores Parish Development Fund (FDFA).

Paulo Estêvão highlighted the very positive results of the current Technical and Financial Cooperation Scheme, with the approval of 2,237 applications totalling over €41 million.

The meeting also discussed the deadlines for the implementation of local projects, efforts to settle outstanding tourism VAT owed to municipal authorities, and the monitoring of municipal construction projects due for completion by the end of 2026.

The budget document, which is now following the standard parliamentary procedure towards its consideration and final vote in plenary, sets regional public investment at €942.2 million (with €650 million in direct investment from the Regional Government), thereby consolidating an approach to governance focused on rigour, territorial cohesion and the promotion of the Azores’ identity.