Regional Director for European Affairs stresses importance of diaspora in the Azores/European Union relation
The Regional Director for European Affairs highlighted in Angra do Heroísmo the importance of the European Union for the Azores and the Azoreans, whether those who live in the archipelago or those who, for a variety of reasons, live outside the Region.
"The reality of the Azores of today involves a very close relation with the European Union, which should not and cannot overlook our diaspora," Célia Azevedo said, pointing out the example of the European Union Free Trade Agreement with Canada (CETA).
According to the Regional Director, this agreement brings "new prospects for the export of Azorean products," especially dairy products, considering that its implementation "must also include the Azorean diaspora in Canada as they are the main ambassadors of the Region, its values and products."
Célia Azevedo spoke at the session "The Azores in Europe and Europe in the Azores taking place under the Terceira-Canada Friendship Associations on the island of Terceira until Thursday. According to her, it is "important that Azoreans, wherever they are, know the Azores better as a Region of the European Union" with their specificities, as defined in the status of Outermost Regions, and know how this reality brings "an crucial dimension to the development process of the Azores."
The Regional Director spoke to the participants of this initiative organised in partnership between the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, and the Terceira-Canada Friendship Association. In her speech, she addressed the channels in which the Azores are present to defend regional interests with EU institutions and bodies as well as with various interregional cooperation organisations.
"The immense presence of Azorean communities scattered throughout the world is regarded as a major asset of the Region in a European context," Célia Azevedo said, stressing that these communities confer "a relevant dimension to the Azores in a globalised world."