The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations said in Brussels that the EU Commission's Communication "is an important document to develop the strategy for Outermost Regions." However, he considered that "it is not innovative regarding the provision of specific measures and tools."

Rodrigo Oliveira took part in the debate on the report issued by the Committee of the Regions "Outermost Regions in the context of Europe 2020" and praised "the quality of the draft opinion which is in line with the position taken by Outermost Regions." Furthermore, the government official also praised the "proximity and willingness to dialogue" demonstrated by rapporteur Malcolm Mifsud, Mayor of Pietá, recalling that 32 amendments agreed by the Conference of Presidents of ORs were included by the Commission in the communication with the rapporteur's agreement.

Speaking at the plenary session, the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations highlighted some aspects addressed by report issued by the Committee of the Regions "for their relevance and timeliness to the Autonomous Region of the Azores." According to him, it is "essential that the European Union excludes ORs from the 150 km maritime border criterion so that regions, the Azores in particular, may access cross-border cooperation programmes.

"It makes no sense that the European Union, on the one hand, considers ORs as their representatives around the world and, on the other hand, it does not allow these regions to take part in a cooperation programme that mainly aims to boost relations and dialogue across European borders."

Rodrigo Oliveira also stressed that," in addition to the promotion of emerging sector, Europe cannot stop defending and supporting the traditional sectors of ORs, such as agriculture, particularly with regard to the deregulation of markets and signing of trade agreements."

The Regional Under Secretary also urged for the need to "address all matters with impact on the Outermost Regions taking into account their transverse nature and coherence in accordance with the reality and status of these regions." In this context, the government official conveyed his "satisfaction for the debate on the strategy for Outermost Regions by EU regional policy institutions."

The report issued by the Committee of the Regions on "Outermost Regions in the context of Europe 2020" was unanimously approved.