The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations considered the process of citizens' involvement in the definition of the Cohesion Policy for the post-2020 period promoted by the Government of the Azores to be "unprecedented, relevant, valued and timely."

 Rui Bettencourt spoke in Ponta Delgada at a joint press conference with the Regional Director for Planning and Structural Funds to disseminate this process of consultation, participation and involvement of the Azorean society. The government official underlined that it aims "to request the contribution and participation of political parties and social partners," calling for "joint work" in this area.

The process runs until January 2018 and is structured in three lines of action. namely the three conferences on Cohesion Policy after 2020 at regional, national and Community level; the first will be held already on July in Ponta Delgada. It also includes three prospective workshops and, lastly, a global prospective and strategic analysis, always involving all the partners in these initiatives.

 Hence, the aim is to "look for ideas, suggestions and the vision" that the Azoreans have on Cohesion Policy for the period after 2020, Rui Bettencourt said, assuring that "the Regional Government wants to defend the Azores' view in the country and in Brussels."

"The aim is to involve, hear to and take into account the views of the Azorean society on a fundamental issue for the future of the Azores," which is currently in the process of being drawn in the European Union, said the Regional Secretary.
According to Rui Bettencourt, this process come in the exact moment to assert a "consensual Azorean position with serenity" in all the moments to take place in coming years.

 In addition to the planned actions, the Government has also created an email address [email protected] to receive the contributions from Azorean citizens as well as those from Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Youth Councils, which will serve as a working basis for the last phase of the process; the latter consists in assessing the impact of each of the factors found in previous phases for a better strategic positioning.