Praia da Vitoria, Azores, Portugal, June 9, 2025 (Lusa) - The leader of the government of Portugal's Azores island region (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) said on Monday that it is time for the archipelago to assert itself as a “region of opportunities” and that the country “has everything to gain” if it knows how to make the most of its potential.
José Manuel Bolieiro said that the region has been recognised, “albeit insufficiently”, both by the country and by the European Union as an outermost region, but that it is now time to assert itself “as a region of opportunities”.
“Opportunities for our development and for the strategic potential of the country and the European Union, within their geopolitical frameworks,” said the leader of the regional executive at the formal session of the Day of the Azores, which this year took place in Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island.
He continued: “In the collective regional future, as uncertain as the disturbances of the present, we must aspire to ensure that the principles of solidarity, equity, social justice and human dignity continue to guide us in the Azores. And, with political capacity, we must be open to dialogue and a benchmark for stability”.
He added that everyone is challenged to promote the changes necessary for the development of the Azores.
"To live in the Azores is to live between land and sea, between isolation and openness to the world, in the North Atlantic, between the outermost region of Europe and the transatlantic centre. It is this Atlantic position that gives us the opportunity to be protagonists in the economies of the future, focused on sustainability and the digital, energy, technological and scientific transitions, in the maritime and space economies, in the field of external relations, under leadership by example, and in the right dimension of our geostrategic position,” he said.
Bolieiro also recalled that last week the new Government on the mainland took office and considered it an opportune moment to “renew” the strategic dimension of the Azores.
“It is the country that has everything to gain if it knows how to value, with intelligence and concrete action, the potential of the Azores. It is the European Union that has everything to gain if it knows how to count on its western Atlantic border to project its future with global relevance,” he said.
He added: “Relevance in technological innovation, in leading by example in the sustainability of human, plant and animal life on this planet, or in competitiveness and growth in new economies, namely the blue, green and technological economies, considered to be the unavoidable transitions of today, such as climate, energy and digital.”
The leader of the Azorean executive also highlighted the “enormous maritime and spatial dimension” of the Azores, which give the territory “global centrality”.
“Not everyone is aware of this reality, but I would remind you that Portugal has one of the largest maritime areas in the world. Our Exclusive Economic Zone covers around 1.7 million km2, making Portugal the 5th largest European country in terms of maritime size and the 20th largest in the world,” he explained.
The sea around the Azores “represents 56% of the country’s sea” and this must be taken into account in strategies for “cohesive and collective development of the entire territory of Portugal and all Portuguese people”.
The celebrations taking place today in Praia da Vitória are jointly organised by the Legislative Assembly and the Azores regional government, following the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Azores Day in 1980 to celebrate Azorean identity and autonomy.
The date, a regional holiday, is celebrated on the Monday of Holy Spirit (Generally defined as a series of celebrations in honour and praise of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit Festivals in the Azores traditionally take place over a seven-week period between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday).
During the formal ceremony, 20 Azorean honorary insignia were awarded to citizens and entities that have distinguished themselves “for personal or institutional merits, acts, civic achievements or services rendered to the region”.
One autonomous insignia of value was awarded, four autonomous insignia of recognition, two of professional merit, one of industrial, commercial and agricultural merit and twelve autonomous insignia of civic merit.
ASR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
