The Regional Director for European Affairs conveyed in Cape Verde the Azorean Government's availability to work on the identification and creation of new joint projects under the second call for projects under the Territorial Cooperation Programme of the European Union: Interreg Mac 2014-2020.
 
According to Célia Azevedo, "it is now important that, in partnership, we should be able to urge public and private operators from our territories to strengthen their coordination" in order to submit applications in this second call for the programme, as announced during the meeting held in the city of Praia.
 
"We are pleased with the 215 projects submitted, the 181 evaluated and the 56 approved under the first call to this programme," the Regional Director said, noting that the Azores have participated in 34 of the 56 approved projects and Cape Verde in 41, which she considered to be "particularly significant."
 
Nevertheless, Célia Azevedo defended the need to "do more and better" with projects that "should put at the service" of the regions and countries involved, but also at the service of the European Union and other countries." In this regard, she added that these new projects should "give rise to other projects" and reinforce of existing ties, in addition to giving new dimension and visibility to Macaronesia."
 
For the Regional Director, this cooperation programme is a source of pride, being the "main tool" to provide an effective response to common challenges and cooperation with third countries in the area of Macaronesia area as regards to innovation, competitiveness, internationalisation, sustainable development and public administration efficiency.
 
In her speech, Célia Azevedo reiterated the fundamental principle of the Final Declaration of the Second Macaronesian Summit held in the Azores on June 1: "the union among the four archipelagos of Macaronesia" and "the will to cooperate with a view to the promotion of well-being, through the economic, social and environmental development of their territories."
 
In this context, the government official considered that the participation in this meeting, under the "Hexagone" strategic project," aims to "develop synergies" and implement the necessary cooperation mechanisms to address the interests and promotion of the archipelagos of Macaronesia. Moreover, it also intends to promote cooperation and integration under the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States.
 
During this visit to Cape Verde, the Regional Director for European Affairs will also meet with Helena Paiva, Dolores Ríos Peset and Sofia Moreira de Sousa, Ambassadors to Portugal, Spain and the European Union to Cape Verde, respectively.