The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Ponta Delgada that the Government of the Azores "defends and welcomes the possibility of strengthening the coordination of positions between both Autonomous Regions in several matters," towards "a better mutual understanding of the challenges they face together at regional, national and European level."

"In an enlarged Union and in a Europe of regions, it makes sense that the Azores and Madeira, as autonomous and outermost regions that contribute to the projection of Europe and share challenges related to their insularity and remoteness, strengthen the efforts and dialogue with each other," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke at a press conference for the presentation of the programme's schedule for the visit of President of the Regional Government of Madeira to the Azores.

Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that "the Regional Government has identified a number of areas of common interest in which concrete steps can be taken to reinforce cooperation between both regions, the establishment of exchanges and development of joint projects." In this regard, the government official pointed out as examples the areas of European affairs, youth policies, culture, civil protection, fisheries and the environment.

"The Government of the Azores considers that the conditions are created for the establishment desirable institutional relations between both autonomous regions," said the government official.

With regard to the visit of the President of the Regional Government of Madeira to the Azores, which will begin Saturday, January 30, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that it is "a historic visit that will mark a new era. Hence, this visit fulfils the goals announced by the President of the Government of Azores announced in the invitation addressed to the President of the Government of Madeira: take a significant step in the mutual awareness of common challenges, project the visibility of relation between both archipelagos and extend the existing relation to new matters and sectoral domains."

In addition to the historic importance of this visit, which "will certainly mark a new cycle in the relation, proximity and friendship between both autonomous regions," the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency pointed out that the Azores and Madeira "are the Outermost Regions that have assumed leading positions in European organisations at European level." The government official stressed that "there is, in fact, several matters, statutes, interests and challenges that require the improvement of relations."

The visit of the President of the Government of Madeira to the Azores will take place on January 30 and 31 and February 1. He will visit the island of São Miguel, Pico, Faial and Terceira.

For January 31 and February 1, the Regional Government has prepared a programme to "emphasise sectoral areas of special importance, either in the area of economy and its different sectors or in the areas renewable energy, cultural heritage and research, without forgetting internal territorial diversity," said Rodrigo Oliveira.

During the visit, the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, will be accompanied by the Regional Secretaries for Tourism and Transport, Vítor Fraga, Agriculture and the Environment, Luís Neto Viveiros, and the Under Regional of the Presidency for External Relations, Rodrigo Oliveira. Other members of the Azorean Government will take part in the programme in accordance with their sectoral powers, namely in the working meeting between both Governments and the ceremony for the signing of the Joint Declaration of Cooperation Protocols.