Approval of maritime space management law is “historic for the Azores,” says Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government considered that the approval of the Region's proposal amending the Basic Law on Maritime Spatial Planning and Management at the National Assembly is historic for the Azores, for the autonomous regions and for the country.
“This is truly a historic day for the Azores, for the autonomous regions and for our country.
What this law establishes is no more and no less than the implementation of a principle that has been embedded, since 2009, in the Political-Administrative Statute of the Azores, when it mentions the shared management of the sea,” said Vasco Cordeiro.
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government stated that the specific solutions that have been found, both those proposed by the Azorean Parliament and those approved by the National Assembly, “represent a major asset for the autonomous regions, for the country and for the way the sea is regarded."
It should be recalled that the Regional Government submitted to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores a preliminary draft law to amend that basic law. The initiative was unanimously approved by regional MPs and was later approved by the National Assembly.
“This law adds formal legitimacy to the legitimacy of the policies concerning sea matters that have yielded very positive results for the Azores in over 40 years of Autonomy," stressed the President of the Government.
The law was approved with the votes in favour of PS, PAN and Liberal Initiative parties, the abstention of PSD, except the MPs from the autonomous regions, BE, PCP, CDS, PEV and Chega parties and non-attached MP Joacine Katar Moreira, and with the votes against of 12 socialist MPs.
"I am very sorry that, given what this law represents for the Region, it was not possible for other parties to vote in favour of this law," said Vasco Cordeiro.