The Regional Director for European Affairs defended in Ponta Delgada that the European Union's Competition Policy must pay "particular attention" to Outermost Regions in its rules, regulations, decisions and guidelines.
 
Célia Azevedo spoke at the opening session of the Training on State Aid, an initiative promoted by the Regional Government in conjunction with the European Commission and the National Government. The government official stressed that these are markets and regions whose economic and structural situation is aggravated by the great distance from main markets, insularity, small size, mountainous relief and harsh climate, and the economic dependence on a small number of products.
 
The Regional Director recalled that "these regions - the Outermost Regions, our Region - are fully part of the Internal Market that was at the core of the European project; however, they can only seize advantages if there is such a particular attention." In this regard, she recalled that the Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union "clearly provides for specific measures for Outermost Regions in terms of State aid.
 
Célia Azevedo also reminded that the competition rules in the European Union "have stemmed from the first law of Treaties" since the beginning of the European project. They aim to guarantee the functioning of markets and the economy by better serving companies and consumers. Moreover, they provide companies with "the opportunity to compete in the European economy, regardless of their size or their location."
 
Therefore, she also defended that the Competition Policy should be considered "a policy at the service of Azorean, Portuguese and European citizens" and, above all, "a policy for the growth and development of Europe and the Azores."
 
"Let us think of the European Union Competition Policy from a different perspective than usual - not as a complex series of rules, guidelines, computer systems, forms - but as a Policy that also guarantees stability and development," said the Regional Director.
 
For the Regional Director, the aim of this training, directed to the Regional Administration, is to provide each participant "with more information and raise their awareness for these issues so that, with enriched knowledge and increased awareness, we may be able to do more and better in our areas of intervention," said the government official.
 
Hence, the government official pointed out that the significant number of participants in this training evidences the search for more and better knowledge towards "an even more efficient, open and transparent administration." According to her, the administration should "renew its knowledge and have the ability to adapt to contexts of continuous growth and competitiveness."