Communiqué from the Council of the Government - Communication

The Council of the Government, which met on August 7, 2025, in Ponta Delgada, decided to adopt the following measures:

1. Approve the Resolutions authorising expenditure by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service for:

a) the purchase of five emergency vehicles for the Region's rescue and assistance service;

b) the purchase of 12 type B ambulances for the Region's emergency and patient assistance services.

The Volunteer Fire Brigades play an essential role on each island in the Region in responding to emergencies and protecting the population. They are dedicated to critical missions such as rescue in accidents, disasters and catastrophes, firefighting and providing pre-hospital emergency medical assistance. With a view to carrying out these missions effectively, they must have adequate, modern and functional technical resources at their disposal.

In this context, there is a clear need to replace a large number of emergency and assistance vehicles assigned to regional fire brigades.

For this replacement, it is important to ensure the standardisation of solutions that serve the Region, particularly regarding the classification required for emergency and assistance vehicles, while also considering the geographical specificities of the various islands of the archipelago, namely their terrain, communities, and social and economic diversity.

The estimated financial impact is estimated at €1,886,792.45, plus VAT at the legal rate in force on the purchase of five emergency vehicles. 

Currently, there is a significant number of type B emergency ambulances assigned to regional fire brigades, which, due to their advanced age, have high maintenance costs and long periods of inoperability.

This scenario compromises the operational availability of fire brigades and may even jeopardise their response in critical situations and negatively affect the safety of professionals and patients being transported.

As such, the acquisition of 12 type B emergency ambulances will partially fill some operational gaps, ensure the continuity of the rescue mission and strengthen the installed capacity of regional Fire Brigades.

For all these reasons, it is essential to replace the current vehicles with type B ambulances, duly equipped and adapted to the operational requirements of the Region, safeguarding the response capacity of the Fire Brigades and the safety of their users and the population.

Therefore, as regards the purchase of 12 type B ambulances, the Regional Government authorises the estimated expenditure of €1,037,735.00, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.

2. Approve resolutions authorising the Secretariat for Agriculture and Food to grant financial support in the areas of agriculture, livestock farming, rural development, and the management and enhancement of forestry and hunting resources.

The support approved here is intended for two types of regional organisations:

a) Regional non-profit associations.

The amount of support to be allocated under this Resolution has a budget limit of €4,000,000.00.

b) Regional cooperative organisations.

The amount of support to be allocated under this Resolution has a budget limit of €2,700,000.00.

3. Approve amendments to the Regional Implementing Decree regulating the “Local Economic Base” measure.

This second amendment to the Regional Implementing Decree establishing the rules for the implementation of the "Local Economic Base" incentive measure, which is part of the Construir 2030 Programme, aims to boost its effectiveness, simplify procedures and ensure greater adaptation to the needs of businesses and the regional economic reality.

The main amendments introduced are the updating of the measure regarding the new Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities, the redefinition of eligible expenses, the revision of project merit criteria, and the simplification of job creation assessment.

The performance bonus scheme has also been revised and will now be awarded at the end of the investment, promoting the implementation of sustainable projects and the enhancement of skilled employment.

This revision arises from the implementation of the measure and aims to ensure better alignment with the strategic targets of Portugal 2030, the principles of good public administration, and European standards applicable to public incentives.

With these amendments, the Regional Government intends to continue to support the regional business fabric more effectively, promoting territorial cohesion, the modernisation of companies and the revitalisation of the local economy.

4. Approve the Resolution authorising the expenditure and contracting of the works for the “Servicing of the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Housing Development, parish of Capelas, municipality of Ponta Delgada.”

The Regional Government intends to continue promoting policies to improve the housing conditions of the Region's housing stock, a commitment that has been undertaken and financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

In this regard, the Regional Government aims to service the Nossa Senhora do Rosário housing development in the parish of Capelas, municipality of Ponta Delgada, granting 36 plots for single-family houses under the controlled-cost housing scheme.

The base price is set at €2,700,000.00, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.

5. The Regional Government firmly believes that the scheme in question automatically applies to the Region and has also introduced an exceptional manual prescription mechanism to ensure co-payment and equal treatment for Regional Health Service users, considering that the process regarding the Electronic Prescription of Medicines is currently being implemented and developed. This process began with the signing of a cooperation protocol on April 3, 2024, between the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security (SRSSS), the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), the Central Administration of the Health System, I.P. (ACSS) and the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS),  with a view to guaranteeing the Regional Health Service access to the information systems operated by the National Health Service. This will ensure the availability of information between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Mainland Portugal, as well as shared access between health professionals and users.

6. Approve the resolution authorising the Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning, and Public Administration to provide financial support to individuals and legal entities, both public and private, for actions and projects related to science, research, and technology in the field of legal metrology.

7. Approve the Resolution authorising the urban development operation proposed by the company Torres & Belchior, Lda., with a view to building a four-star tourist apartment complex in the parish of São José, municipality of Ponta Delgada, with an estimated capacity of 98 new beds.

The planned tourist development was designed, to a large extent, based on its location, opposite the southern entrance to Jardim António Borges. The proximity of this garden was the inspiration and theme for its design and development, both in terms of the spaces and the goods and services to be provided to guests, enhancing and differentiating this development. As such, its implementation will be an asset for the urban quality of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, as well as for the growth of four-star tourist units on São Miguel Island.

8. Approve the Resolution authorising the permanent and free transfer of a property to the Municipality of Vila do Porto for renovation purposes, given its location within the area covered by the Detailed Plan for the Preservation and Enhancement of the Historic Area of Vila do Porto.

9. Approve the Resolution renewing the Higher Education Student Tuition Fee Support Programme for 2025.

10. Approve the Resolution renewing the Higher Education Student Scholarship Programme for 2025.

11. Approve the Resolution ratifying the acts carried out by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, within the scope of contracts for the acquisition and supply of goods and services not covered by Government Council Resolution no.150-A/2024 of October 21.

Following the fire that broke out at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo in Ponta Delgada on May 4, 2024, and given the urgent need to restore the response capacity for urgent and emergency health care, the Regional Government of the Azores authorised, under Resolution no.150-A/2024 of October 21, the direct procurement of various supplies and equipment installations for the modular hospital supporting that hospital unit.

In addition, and still in the context of urgent necessity, supplementary contracts were signed for the acquisition of goods and services not covered by that Resolution, which were essential for the outfitting and operation of the modular hospital.

The acts carried out by the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security concerning these additional contracts are now being ratified.