The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Funchal that Outermost Regions (ORs) are committed to the European project, but want to have a "decisive say" about the future of the partnership with the European Union, as follows in the Final Declaration of the 21st Conference of Presidents of ORs.
 
 "It is a strong political statement that demonstrates the degree of commitment of Outermost Regions to the European project and its founding principles, such as cohesion and solidarity. Likewise, it is a strong statement that voices our concern about the current situation of the European Union," Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official that "ORs want to have a decisive say on the future development of the partnership between the European Union and Outermost Regions."
 
Rodrigo Oliveira spoke Thursday at the signing ceremony of the Final Declaration of the Conference of Presidents of Outermost Regions, in which he participated on behalf of the President of the Government. According to him, "2017 will be a decisive year to further develop the strategic partnership of Outermost Regions with the European Union."
 
 "Firstly, it will be accomplished through the memorandum of ORs, a document that embodies their commitment to develop the main proposals and outstanding issues for the preparation of the next European framework and the ORs Forum; the latter stems from a proposal presented by the Azorean Government that is already in its fourth edition. The event will take place in Brussels and is expected to bring together several hundreds of participants who will discuss matters pertaining to Outermost Regions. Moreover, there will also be a EU statement on the Outermost Regions, scheduled for next year.
 
The Final Declaration of the meeting held in Madeira restates the "full support" of Outermost Regions to the European project, defending "a European Union that should focus on its citizens and its fundamental values; a European Union that should use all means at its disposal to promote progress, job creation as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion."
 
In this document, the ORs reiterate the "relevance and scope of Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as an autonomous and sufficient legal basis for the adoption of specific measures fully suited to Outermost Regions," said the government official. In this regard, he recalled that the EU Court of Justice has recently "rejected all restrictive interpretations leading to a considerable limitation of the possibilities provided in Article 349 of the Treaty."
 
Hence, the Conference of Presidents of ORs has taken the commitment to submit by 2017 a memorandum to European institutions in which it will update its analysis of pending issues and further develop its proposals. The document will also call the attention of the European Commission for mobilisation, with the decisive participation of Portugal, France and Spain, "in order to provide an appropriate response to the challenges in the context of a renewed strategy that includes specific legislative actions."