The Governments of the Azores and Madeira signed today six new collaboration protocols in the areas of telecommunications, science and research, energy, agriculture, culture and youth volunteering at a ceremony held in Funchal during Vasco Cordeiro's official visit to that autonomous region.
 
On the third day of this official visit, both autonomous regions also signed amendments to the protocols on forest resources, fisheries and aquaculture that were formalised in early 2016, as part of Miguel Albuquerque's visit to the Azores.
 
In the area of telecommunications, the cooperation agreement signed today between the two governments states that the Azores and Madeira are served by a single submarine cable. It is necessary to find an alternative to the current international systems connecting the two regions to Mainland Portugal that ensure international connectivity while reducing costs for companies and the population in general.
 
Hence, the protocols provide for a joint study on the possibility of a connection between both autonomous regions in order to enable the creation of a new Mainland Portugal-Azores-Madeira ring. This will ensure, for both regions, the existence of redundancy to their main international connections, which is considered of vital importance.
 
For the energy sector, both Regional Government signed a protocol that provides for cooperation actions to strengthen and improve knowledge on the exploration of endogenous energy resources for electricity production, energy management, smart grids and energy efficiency.
 
Furthermore, the two autonomous regions also decided to create the Youth Volunteer Academy programme to promote the participation of young people in voluntary activities in the Azores and Madeira. This initiative is aimed at the acquisition of personal and technical skills, encourage the spirit of initiative and solidarity among young people and promote civic participation in important areas for society and youth mobility.
 
Open to young people aged between 18 and 30 living in the two autonomous regions, the new programme covers areas such as sport, social insertion and reintegration, education, environmental protection, animal protection, rehabilitation of urban areas or situations of catastrophe and emergency.
 
As far as agriculture is concerned, the Government of the Azores and Madeira established a bilateral cooperation agreement that include the establishment of synergies for the development of projects of common interest, seizing the technical and scientific potential of each Region. Moreover, it also includes the presentation of joint proposals for plant protection and livestock protection, among others.
 
The promotion of technical and logistical cooperation between the agricultural testing laboratories of both regions and the joint promotion of agricultural and agri-food products are also foreseen in this agreement. It also includes bilateral cooperation to claim the necessary budget appropriations under POSEI Azores and POSEI Madeira in the context of the revision of these programmes.
 
In the field of science and research, both governments signed a cooperation protocol that provides for the deepening of bilateral political and strategic relations. It is mainly focused on research programmes, development and research in the European Union and organisation of bilateral meetings to discuss relevant EU matters of interest to the Azores and Madeira in the field of science and research. Furthermore, there are plans to set up a working group that will responsible for planning and strengthening relations in this area.
 
As for culture, the protocol signed today aims to promote the collaboration between the Conservatories of Ponta Delgada and Madeira with a view to improving musical practice, an initiative of both autonomous regions to promote cultural revitalisation.
 
The sharing of teachers for continuous training and master classes, the exchange of soloists and collaboration in the implementation of repertoire, programmes and courses for the learning local or regional instruments are some of the goals of this partnership. Moreover, it includes the creation of a project to establish a youth orchestra from the Atlantic islands (Azores, Madeira and the Canaries) that will be led by the two conservatories as well as the promotion of a training partnership with Cape Verde.
 
At the ceremony held in Funchal, both governments also signed an amendment to an already existing cooperation protocol in the area of fisheries and aquaculture with a view to increasing the coordinated efforts between the two regions in the promotion of fish products. The document highlights the specific characteristics of outermost regions, namely in the development of certification models and strategies for pole-and-line fishing.
 
The purpose of this addition is to foster the exchange of experience and expertise for the development of scientific productivity in fisheries and aquaculture. In addition, it promotes partnerships for scientific projects intended to increase knowledge on marine biodiversity, sustainability in the exploration of fishing resources as well as the diversity and quality of fish available to consumers.
 
The Governments of the Azores and Madeira also agreed on the amendment to the already existing protocol on forest resources in order to strengthen cooperation in this area, mainly in the production of native plants and forest management certification. With this amendment, the Azores intend to improve the experience in the management and monitoring of the viral haemorrhagic disease that hit the wild rabbit population.