Artur Lima participated in the Bureau Politico meeting of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), held today in Bari, Italy.
“The CPMR is a significant body for the inter-regional coordination of the Azores at the European level. In a context of substantial challenges for the European Union (EU), it is essential to ensure axes of cooperation with regions facing many of the same problems,” stated Artur Lima, as quoted in a press release from the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM).
The European Pact for the Oceans, which is being prepared within the European Union, “demands the creation of common action strategies among these regions on a matter so crucial for their economic, scientific, and sustainable development,” added the vice-president of the Azorean government.
According to the regional executive, key issues for European peripheral regions were discussed during the meeting, such as the Cohesion Policy, the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the ecological transition, and energy.
The work of the CPMR is divided into five areas: Climate and Energy, Cohesion Policy, Maritime Affairs, Neighborhood Policy, and Transport and Accessibility.
Artur Lima stated, “Focusing on these areas allows us to build a common vision of territorial competitiveness in peripheral maritime regions, which is then communicated to European institutions.”
With the participation of Lourdes Acedo Montoya, the chief economist of the Directorate-General for Budget of the European Commission, attendees of the CPMR Bureau Politico received insights into the status and challenges of formulating the next MFF.
On this topic, Artur Lima emphasized that “the Multiannual Financial Framework will define the priorities of the European Union in the coming years, so the Region must ensure its needs are addressed.”
The official also noted that Portugal is one of the founding members of NATO, due to the Lajes Base located on Terceira Island.
Moreover, the Regional Government reported that the vice-president of the Azorean executive invited Lourdes Montoya to visit the Autonomous Region of the Azores, to better understand its unique characteristics, “an invitation that was accepted.”
The CPMR comprises more than 150 regions from Europe’s maritime basin or maritime periphery, representing over 200 million people.
