The Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations conveyed on Friday the Regional Government's "profound satisfaction" for the recognition of the "specific vulnerabilities" of Outermost Regions (ORs) to natural disasters. Hence, "these regions will have access to the European Union Solidarity Fund on more favourable terms."

Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that the Committee of Permanent Representatives has reached an agreement. As he revealed, "it allows the activation of this EU response tool for major natural disasters at a regional level when direct losses correspond to 1% of the GDP of Outermost Regions. With regard to the remaining European regions, "the fund will be activated when losses reach 1.5%, that is, an amount 50% higher than for Outermost Regions."

The European Union Solidarity Fund was established in 2002 and has been subject to a revision process based on a proposal presented by the European Commission in 2013. The proposal is primarily intended to improve its operation, streamline its response capacity, simplify procedures and clarify the criteria for its activation.

The Government of the Azores issued a report in December 2013 that was submitted to national and European institutions. It conveyed the Government's concerns with the exclusion of "the previous reference to the specific situation of Outermost Regions" in the proposal submitted by the EU Commission; the latter was unfavourable to these regions and represented a clear step backwards from the previous aid scheme.

"The outcome of this negotiation evidences, once again, the importance of the Outermost Region status to the Azores. Despite the difficulties in its defence - before a Council made up of 28 Member States - the Azores have demonstrated the possibility of introducing relevant exception cases and positive discrimination for the ORs, even in the cases when the Commission's initial proposals were note favourable," said the Under Secretary.

Rodrigo Oliveira considered that the "close coordination between the Azores' position and that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" was fundamental for the defence of this position, through the efforts carried out by the Portuguese Permanent Representation to the European Union (PEPER). The government official also mentioned the concerns expressed by the Greek Presidency regarding this issue."

"Naturally, we wish that the Azores be free from natural disasters, especially from those that require the activation of this Fund. However, we all acknowledge that Outermost Regions are periodically hit by natural disasters," stressed the government official.

Accordingly, "the recognition of the territorial constraints and the assurance of a more favourable access to this EU solidarity tool with well-defined criteria is a clear source of satisfaction."

"Now, we hope that the European Parliament confirms the compromise agreement that has been reached in order to streamline the final approval of this Regulation," added Rodrigo Oliveira.