"The sea allows refocusing on the actual importance of the outermost regions (ORs) of the European Union and, in particular, the Azores."

The statement was made by the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke at the closing session of the Scientific Forum to support the decision-making process "Knowing the Azores Sea III," stressing the contribution provided by ORs to the development of a new growth paradigm for the European Union: the blue growth.

The Under Secretary supported this position by stating that the territory of the ORs "comprises a maritime area of about three million kilometres, "of which one third is represented by the Exclusive Maritime Zone of the Azores." This fact clearly evidences "the importance of the sea of the Azores and the Outermost Regions for Europe" as well as for the projection of the European Union in the Atlantic Ocean, both in the North and South, and the Indian Ocean.

In this context, the various aspects of the European integrated maritime policy are a priority for "our external action within bodies like the Conference of Maritime Regions of Europe, which is mainly focused on maritime affairs, working groups on maritime spatial planning, transport" and other areas that concern the Azores. Likewise, the government official emphasised the organisation of high level events in the Region, such as the Atlantic Forum.

Rodrigo Oliveira also pointed out the importance of organising this forum under the initiative "Open Days" of European cities and regions. "The 'Open Days' are the most important event organised under the Europe of regions, an initiative that comprises two-hundred European regions and cities from 30 Member-States.

The integration of the forum "Knowing the Azores Sea" in the local events of the "Open Days," one of the four to be held in Portugal, is part of over three hundred events taking place throughout the European Union between September and November, revealed the Under Secretary.

Rodrigo Oliveira also stated that part of the conclusions of this forum will be presented in Europe as early as October under a conference on biotechnology to be organised by the Azores in partnership with relevant European regions, including Brittany and Pays de la Loire (France), Asturias (Spain), Vastra Gotaland (Sweden) and Wales (UK).

The inclusion of the Azorean Government in one the 25 partnerships established under "Open Days," designated as Blue Biotechnology Regions of Europe (BBRE), aims to recognise and disseminate the experience of the Forum "Knowing the Azores Sea" by bringing the same principle to Brussels, at an event that will be attended by, at least, fifty participants from 20 countries, including non-European countries like Brazil and the United States.