The Regional Under Secretary of Parliamentary Affairs for External Relations met today with the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary and European Affairs of Madeira, Sérgio Marques, in Brussels, following the recently signed protocol between the governments of both Autonomous Regions on EU matters.

"This meeting fulfils the commitment towards the immediate start of preparation works of an action plan for the creation of the Representation Office of Autonomous Regions in Brussels, particularly with regard to the possibilities for its location," said Rodrigo Oliveira at the end of the meeting.

With the agreement signed in Angra do Heroísmo on February 1, the governments of the Azores and Madeira have pledged to reinforce cooperation in the defence of joint positions on EU policies and legislation with impact on Autonomous Regions and, whenever possible, to coordinate joint positions with institutions. Furthermore, both governments took the commitment to create the Representation Office of Regions in Brussels.

"This representation will ensure the rationality of resources, with sharing of operating costs and, above all, strengthen the intervention capacity in the defence of the common interests of both regions, but also the defence of the specific interests of each region," said the Regional Under Secretary.

This morning, Rodrigo Oliveira and Sérgio Marques also met with the Regional Counsellors of the Azores and Madeira at REPER, João Lança and João Jesus. Previously, they had met with the Portuguese delegation of the Committee of the Regions and with the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union, Ambassador Nuno Brito.

"Both governments have a close and important relation with REPER and the establishment of the Representation Office will neither harm this institutional relationship nor the crucial role of Regional Counsellors of the Portuguese Representation to the European Union. It is rather an additional factor that will strengthen the presence of the Azores and Madeira as well as of their social partners in Brussels, being, therefore, an asset to the country," noted Rodrigo Oliveira.

The protocol on European affairs signed by Rodrigo Oliveira and Sérgio Marques is one of the 10 protocols annexed to the Joint Declaration. It was signed at the end of the visit of the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, to the Azores at the invitation of Vasco Cordeiro. The visit covered the islands of São Miguel, Pico, Faial and Terceira.