The Regional Under Secretary for External Relations pointed out in Ponta Delgada that "the College of Europe is an institution of reference at a European level." In this regard, the granting of a scholarship for postgraduate courses at this institution fulfils "one of the main goals of the Regional Government under the promotion of specialised knowledge on matters concerning the European Union and the defence of the Region's interests."

Rodrigo Oliveira spoke at the announcement of the granting of "José Medeiros Ferreira" 2015 Scholarship to Roberto Costa Pacheco, who will attend a postgraduate course in European Political and Administrative Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium). The public session also included the signing of the respective scholarship contract.

This is a full scholarship, directly paid to the College of Europe, which comprises tuition feeds, accommodation and food, as well as a round-trip airline ticket. However, it presupposes, as pointed out by Rodrigo Oliveira, "the establishment of relation between beneficiary students with the Government and the Region, through the submission of interim reports after each semester. Moreover, the beneficiaries of this programme are also required to prepare a final report about the course, in general, and a final paper, as part of the course subjects, on a matter of relevant or specific interest to the Azores," besides their availability to collaborate with the Government in various initiatives.

Rodrigo Oliveira highlighted the Government's satisfaction with the admission of two Azorean students to the College of Europe among a total of 17 selected Portuguese applicants, after difficult and demanding national selection tests: Roberto Pacheco, who was granted the "José Medeiros Ferreira" Scholarship and Filipa Santos Machado, who was awarded a scholarship by the College of Europe and a private entity.

"This is the evidence that Azorean young people are among the best at a national and European level. We are even more proud by the fact that both graduated from the University of the Azores, whose Jean Monet Chair has developed a close collaboration with the Government of the Azores," stressed Rodrigo Oliveira. In this regard, the government official highlighted the availability of Professor Carlos Pacheco Amaral, who has represented the Azores in national selection process for the College of Europe.

The Regional Secretary also pointed out the importance for the Azorean Government of the tribute paid to José Medeiros Ferreira. These selected Azorean students will now have the responsibility of being "ambassadors of the Azores at the College of Europe and in their future careers, thus honouring and paying tribute to this remarkable Azorean personality, a university professor, researcher and politician, to whom we owe much of our relations with Europe."

Rodrigo Oliveira recalled that the scholarship programme has already supported two other Azorean students in previous academic years, Margarida Rodrigues and Constança Freitas, who have successfully completed their training at the College of Europe, followed by traineeships in Europe. Currently, both of them are working at EU institutions in Luxembourg and Brussels.