The President of the Government will chair the meeting of the Regional Strategic Consultation Council on Tuesday and will hear political parties in order to analyse the proposal for the Azores Operational Programme, which will be funded by Community funds - FEDER and EFS - in the 2014-2020 period.

The Regional Strategic Consultation Council is a consultation and concertation body in the field of economic, social and environmental policies that comprises the representatives of regional social partners. This body will meet in Ponta Delgada on Tuesday at 11 AM.

On the following day, Vasco Cordeiro will held a round of meetings to hear political parties represented at the Legislative Assembly, including PPM, PCP, BE, CDS/PP, PSD and PS.

The President of the Government has recently presented the proposal concerning the Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 period, which has an estimated allocation over 1.1 billion Euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (FSE).

The main measures, the type of investments and the criteria for the selection of projects under the new programme were some of the topics addressed by the heads of the directorates-general of the EU Commission in an informal dialogue that has been held over the last weeks; it will continue throughout the next months in accordance with the stipulated calendar.

The Government of the Azores continues to rely on the participation of regional social partners and political parties in the context of the dialogue and negotiations that are being started with Community institutions.

The negotiations on the amounts to be allocated from EU funds to the Azores have yielded very positive results for the Region. Now, we are about to prepare and submit to the European Union the proposals for the operational programmes, the conditions for the selection and funding of projects, and the investments that will be promoted and financed by Community programmes.

This is the second round of hearings promoted by the President of the Government on this matter, after hearing social partners and political parties in May 2013 to collect their contributions for the drafting of this document.