The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations restated in Ponta Delgada the importance of informing citizens about Community and regional policies and actively involving them in these policies.
 
"We have a legitimate concern in the Azores. It is an obligation for any politician to provide information on their policies as well as to promote the participation and involvement of citizens in the preparation and definition of policies," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the Meeting-Dialogue with citizens designated as "The Azorean Energy Strategy on Horizon 2030," an initiative promoted by the Azorean Government in conjunction with the National Government and the European Commission Representation in Portugal. On the occasion, he stressed that this regional concern has led to the promotion of various actions to involve the Azorean society, namely in the preparation of the multiannual financial framework.
 
"In this case, what is at stake today is the meeting with the citizens. In fact, this is a meeting between the regional concern and the concern shown by the European Commission and the National Government in promoting this dialogue with citizens about the structural policies for the European Commission, Portugal and the Azores," stressed the government official.
 
With regard to the meeting's theme, the Regional Secretary stressed the existence of several challenges in energy policies, such as climate issues and quality of life, but, above all, "an energy transition to renewable energy." In this context, the Commission has been calling for this transition, which the Azores would like to promote "even further."
 
For Rui Bettencourt, this is a "very important" matter, being particularly important on islands such as the archipelago of the Azores, where it is necessary to manage several energy systems that are not connected to the national energy system.
 
"In the Azores, we have some examples that are very good, and we have a very interesting experience because we are nine islands with nine separate energy systems that can be enhanced," said the Regional Secretary.
 
Rui Bettencourt also added that a new meeting will be held with citizens in February to address the theme of the sea, thus bringing to debate, whenever possible, these structural matters and policies.