The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations assured that the Regional Government is "following with utmost attention" the negotiations taking place between the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 and the EU approach to combating the economic and social impact of COVID-19. 

"The decisions that will be taken at the various meetings of the European Council - today and certainly those of July - will decisively mark the European Union and mark the future of the Azores over the next decade," Rui Bettencourt said, stressing that it is “a very important financing framework” for the development of the Region. 

The government official even considered that, “with the Commission's proposal presented by President Von der Leyen on May 27, a window of hope opens up for a revival of the European Union.” 

According to the Secretary for External Relations, there are three reasons underpinning this statement, namely the fact that this proposal restores “the original spirit of solidarity and cohesion that should guide the European project,” as the amount of 1.850 billion Euros provided for in this proposal "will give strength to the development strategies of the Regions and States in a logic of convergence." In this regard, the creation of a Recovery Fund amounting to 750 billion Euros "is very important" to face, with more confidence, the economic and social situation arising from the current pandemic, whether in the Region, in the country or in the entire EU territory. 
 
“In addition to this proposal of 1.850 billion Euros for the Financial Framework for 2021-2027, representing an increase of 70% over the current Financial Framework 2014-2020, there will be an allocation of 540 billion Euros under so-called Safety Networks for workers, companies and states, recently approved by Eurogroup," stressed the Regional Secretary. 

Rui Bettencourt also stated that the Regional Government's attention “goes straight away to the global allocations that will be approved by the European Council, but also to the distribution of these amounts and, equally important, to the regulations that will be approved, namely regarding the co-financing rates, which the Azores defend that should remain at 85%.” 

"I would like to remind you that the Azores have been very active in the preparation of this Financial Framework, which should be able to finance our development in the next decade," added the government official. In this regard, he recalled that they have been preparing themselves for "what should be the design of policies to be financed by this Community Financial Framework, hearing the civil and political society on the collective vision of the Azoreans for a developed Region.” 

The Regional Secretary also stated that the Regional Government has raised concerns about the social and economic impact of the pandemic to the European Commission that have been heard. In this context, he noted that “the European Commission produced recommendations for Portugal on May 20 towards a coordinated response to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus where, in an unprecedented move, it points out to the importance of supporting the Azores to mitigate the impact on Tourism and the Regional Health Service." 
 
“Therefore, we, as the Government, a strong vigilance on this matter and we are aware of the great deal of work that still needs to be done,” Rui Bettencourt stressed, considering that “huge steps” are being taken.