The Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations said in Brussels that the next European cycle 2014-2020 will boost "employment creation and the reinforcement of the competitiveness of regional economy," being in line with the "development of policies directed to production, training and qualification of workers."

Rodrigo Oliveira spoke during the meeting of the Conference of the Outermost Regions that was held on Tuesday with the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, who considered the promotion of employability and the combat to youth unemployment as a "fundamental axis of the next cycle and a common goal" to Outermost Regions.

The Regional Under Secretary defended the "indispensability of support to traditional sectors," pointing out agriculture and the areas with growth potential as "a key sector of economy."

Rodrigo Oliveira also highlighted the importance of agricultural diversification whereas "the strengthening of new sectors and areas of production will be also an important tool for employability." The government official also mentioned the investment in the timber and paper industry "to include workers from other sectors of activity."

In his speech, the government official stressed the fisheries and tourism sectors and their relation with competitiveness/sustainability, defending the importance of establishing "links and synergies between regional companies, research centres, development and innovation and higher education.”

Furthermore, the Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations considered "the maritime relevance, the biological, geological and energy resources of the Azores and their location in the crossroads of oceanic routes" as "factors of differentiation and development of great importance.”

In this context, he stressed that the Azores are a "platform of excellence and a mobilising centre for the generation of added value," taking into consideration a "rational, balanced and sustainable exploitation of resources, but economically profitable."

Rodrigo Oliveira also highlighted the potential of the Azores in the provision of "services in the transatlantic movement of cargo" and "ocean research in all its aspects." The Under Secretary defended a vision of the Azores Sea "as a space for sharing knowledge and provision of services as well as for the development of new technologies and products."

The government official mentioned the strategic goal towards a "low carbon economy" in the area of sustainable growth, having in mind that "the volcanic nature of the Azores and their climate features will bring specific advantages in the production of renewable energy."
 
For the Regional Under Secretary, "there is still great potential to harness." The government official defended that Europe must "strengthen the role of the Azores as a testing ground in the search of solutions for the production of renewable energy and energy mobility, thus ensuring their independence and safety, sustainability and increased economic competitiveness."

The Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations spoke during the presentation of the assumptions of the Action Plan for 2014-2020, a "comprehensive document that defines a specific context for these policies, but essentially an evolving document that has included the results of ongoing programmes, strategies and regional sectoral plans."