Rui Bettencourt considers this is the moment of firmness, alliance and confidence in the defence of Outermost Regions
The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations reiterated in Saint-Martin the Regional Government's position in defence of the 2021-2027 Financial Framework and Territorial Cooperation for the Outermost Regions.
"Reality tells us that this is the moment of firmness, alliance and confidence," said Rui Bettencourt, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Government at the internal session of the 24th Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions (CPOR) of the European Union.
On the occasion, he drew attention to the reality and the challenge that this “key moment” poses for the Outermost Regions and the EU.
For the government official, firmness is needed in the face of the proposals put to them as well as a strong alliance with common fields of interest, such as a “united, cohesive and progressive Europe.” Confidence is also necessary to explain and convince "those who still fail to understand what is at stake in the European Union and what is the situation and the role of Outermost Regions."
In his speech, the Secretary for External Relations considered that this Conference “is essentially a Fundamental Summit of the Outermost Regions” in light of the current reality, alluding to the proposals for appropriations and co-financing rates to which the Outermost Regions have been opposing.
“Regarding the proposals for Financial Framework that have been put on the table, the vision of European economic, territorial and social cohesion is at stake and even the vision underpinning the very construction of Europe," considered the Regional Secretary.
Rui Bettencourt stressed that all this is a source of various challenges, such as finding "allies" for the defence of Outermost Regions or demonstrating the strengths and potential of these regions, which are "so ignored, misunderstood and not yet fully integrated into the EU geopolitics and geoeconomics."
"All 24 Member States that do not have Outermost Regions need to regard these potentialities and strengths, namely in terms of oceanic dimension, Europe's projection in the world and geostrategic positioning," noted the government official.
The Regional Secretary also stressed the challenge of saying “clearly and firmly” that they are against the cuts in the Cohesion Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, POSEI and in the Fisheries Policy.
Rui Bettencourt launched the challenge to the Outermost Region for the development of joint projects in the areas of Sea and Transport, which, in his opinion, “will strengthen” the Outermost Regions.