The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations said today in Lagoa that youngsters have the "fundamental mission to continue the construction" of Autonomy and the integration in the European Union.

Speaking during the celebrations of Europe Day, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that "Europe's problems and failures are common and, therefore, the solutions should also be common." In this context, it is fundamental "to look into the past as well as into the future."

The Regional Under Secretary evoked Robert Shuman, one of the founders of Europe, alongside with Jean Monet, to explain that his Statement, which was read in Paris on May 9, 1950, marked the beginning of an "exceptional period of over six decades of peace and progress for Europe."

Rodrigo Oliveira stressed the need to look at the past and realise that "the European Union and Europe have overcome terrible crises in the past century."
"The 1960s were marked by numerous institutional conflicts and, yet, a few years later the European Union grows for the first time with the creation of the European Council and the holding of the first democratic elections for the European Parliament," stressed the government official.

Rodrigo Oliveira also underlined that "Europe has responded to the new democracies that came out, for example, from the Carnation Revolution" in Portugal. The Under Secretary added that, over the years and with the fall of the Berlin Wall, "the European space has integrated all these new states and has shown the capacity to overcome, renew and reinvent itself."

"The founding fathers of Europe were resourceful and innovative," Rodrigo Oliveira said, noting that Jean Monet "has never held a politically appointed position; nevertheless he is considered an inspiring role model for Europe due to his technical expertise and persuasion" and for his work behind the scenes of European and American governments.

According to the Regional Under Secretary, this example reminds us that "the construction of Europe is based on political will and active citizenship."
"This year, we are celebrating the European Year of Citizens and, therefore, evoking Jean Monet is essential to raise aware for the role we have to play within our duties, powers and activities," the government official stated, stressing that Europe and its contribution to Portugal and the Azores are, indeed, very important.

Furthermore, Rodrigo Oliveira said that Europe has benefited with the contribution of "Lusophony" and "Azoreanity" as well as with an Exclusive Economic Zone over one million km2 and the environmental biodiversity of several Outermost Regions. In this context, the Under Secretary stressed that the use of renewable energy by the Azores and the space stations located in the Region are a further contribution to the construction and development of Europe.
 
In his speech, Rodrigo Oliveira also highlighted the power of participation of the Azores within the European Union, through the creation of mechanisms at the level of the Assembly and the Government and the representation of the Region at European bodies, which evidence the Region's assets.