During a parliamentary debate on the state of the nation, Luís Montenegro assured that the government is fully prepared to initiate a more intense dialogue with the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores to amend the Regional Finance Law.
“I have even planned a Council of Ministers meeting with the participation of the two presidents of the regional governments to discuss this and other topics of interest to the autonomous regions,” he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s principles for this amendment prioritize the “sound management of public resources, the sustainability of the autonomous regions’ finances, and a funding model that holds the central administration accountable to the regional administration.”
Montenegro also stated that this amendment should “provide predictability to the Regional Administration so that it is not subject to the whims of the Republic’s government” and make it possible “to anticipate, with predictability, the revenues it will have in the medium and long term to plan investments.”
In his speech, the JPP deputy argued that the current Regional Finance Law is “outdated” and “penalizes those living on the islands,” perpetuating “many inequalities.”
Filipe Sousa also expressed regret that, in terms of maritime transport, the autonomous regions remain “without regular connections that ensure the principle of territorial continuity as an alternative to air transport.”
Luís Montenegro stated that the government is working on this issue and on the mobility social subsidy, adding that the decisions already made by the executive “were very relevant to facilitate mobility” between the autonomous regions and the mainland.
