The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated that the training of Azorean staff on European matters is a “clear priority" for the Government, making the best use of the opportunities provided by the European Union.

“As the entry into force of a new Community framework is near and at a time when EU direct funding programmes are being prepared, such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus, COSME , the Creative Europe or Europe for Citizens, it is important that the Government, the University, other public entities as well as private entities and companies may enhance their knowledge on applications for tenders directly promoted by the European Region, under which we have to find partners and synergies in order to promote our competitiveness based on quality and excellence,” emphasised Rodrigo Oliveira.

 In this regard, the government official considered that meeting the political strategies and the different types of direct EU funding, searching for sources of information and knowing the phases that typically make up an application are "crucial assumptions and essential aspects to ensure the success of a project. Moreover, a careful analysis, the planning and preparation of applications, the budgets and the respective implementation reports are also key factors.”

Speaking at the opening session of the Intensive Course on Organisation and Management of European Projects, an initiative promoted by the University of the Azores in partnership with the Regional Government, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that the Government “has awarded priority status to the training of regional staff on European matters as a means of promoting the interest on this area, not just for the study of these matters or the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, but mainly for its practical applicability.”

In his speech, Rodrigo Oliveira undervalued the situation of outermost regions as a barrier that hinders the access to extended European programmes, stressing that constraints “will be minimised by the quality of applications we will submit as well as by the strength and relevance of the partnerships will establish with the rest Europe and the world ."

“As this course was primarily intended to provide participants with basic knowledge on the techniques required to develop and a present a project, I am sure that at the end of this three-day course our participants will be able to prepare an application that will be successfully submitted, either for European Union institutions or for other regional, national or international organisations,” concluded Rodrigo Oliveira.