Azores Participatory Budget 2022 with new theme dedicated to Education, announces Bastos e Silva - Communication

Secretaria Regional das Finanças, Planeamento e Administração Pública

The Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Joaquim Bastos e Silva, announced today the fifth edition of the Azores Participatory Budget 2022, highlighting that this year's edition comprises another area for the presentation of ideas for public investment by citizens: Education.

Accordingly, the Azores Participatory 2022 will cover nine areas: Agriculture, Environment, Science, Culture, Education, Social Inclusion, Youth, Sea and Fisheries, and Tourism.

On the occasion, the government revealed that "the initiative has a budget of one million and two hundred thousand Euros." In addition to presenting and voting on ideas for each island, citizens who reside in the Azores, whether nationals or foreigners, may also present and vote on proposals of regional scope, therefore being entitled to two votes.

Another novelty revealed by Joaquim Bastos e Silva "is the full participation of young people aged 14 to 17 years." As he noted, young people "can now present ideas for public investment in all areas in accordance with the will expressed by them.

In this context, "28 face-to-face participatory meetings dedicated to the Azorean youth will take place on all islands," said the Regional Secretary.

The online participatory meetings, a total of 10, are organised by thematic areas and are open to the participation of all who wish to participate. The first meeting, dedicated to the areas of Agriculture and Environment, was held today, March 16, and was attended by workers from the Regional Government departments. It was aimed at presenting the initiative, answering questions, and supporting the drafting and structuring of citizens' ideas.

The Azores Participatory Budget contributes "to the autonomy of responsibility and, consequently, to the autonomy of implementation, whether by presenting ideas or by choosing them through voting," stressed Joaquim Bastos e Silva.  

From today and until May 31, the Azores Participatory Budget website is open from for the submission of ideas from citizens, whom the Regional Government also invites to participate in participatory meetings in person or online.

For more information, those who are interested can consult the website https://op.azores.gov.pt and the Azores Participatory Budget social networks, email to [email protected] or call the toll-free line 800 500 501.