The plenary session of the Economic and Social Council of the Azores (CESA) met to analyze issues central to the economic and social development of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, with emphasis on the monitoring of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the characterization of the young population that neither studies nor works (NEET).

One of the main items on the agenda, which took place yesterday in Ponta Delgada, was the analysis and unanimous vote on the opinion of the PRR Temporary Committee on the Periodic Monitoring Report for the third quarter of 2024. The councillors expressed concern about the delays in issuing the quarterly reports, calling for an urgent update of the PRR-Azores platform to guarantee more timely information.

According to the data discussed, by September 2024, the region had achieved 77.6% of the targets and milestones set, with a financial execution rate of 36.1%, representing 262 million euros out of a total of 725 million euros planned. However, there remains concern about meeting the timetable that stipulates completion of implementation by the end of the first half of 2026.

Piedade Lalanda, President of the Economic and Social Council of the Azores, commented on the situation:

“Unfortunately, the execution rate hasn’t changed much. We are better off than at national level. The Public Finance Council published a note on national execution, which is less than 30%, and we are at 36%. So the region is a little better than the country, but this is not very positive considering that the ceiling is June 2026. In other words, we have a year ahead of us to execute many of the funds and achieve many of the goals set out in the PRR.”

Regarding the difficulties faced, Piedade Lalanda explained that “those responsible for the various projects recognize that we have specificities due to the fact that we are islands. Some equipment may not arrive on time, even with the tenders open. We have a lot of labor difficulties, there are too many projects for too few construction companies. Some tenders were abandoned and had to be repeated. There are structural delays here that could jeopardize the implementation of some of the targets.”

As for the time lag in evaluating the reports, the president clarified:

“What this committee does is analyze the reports sent to us by the regional government. At the moment, we have received the report for the 3rd quarter of 2024, which was the subject of a meeting in the committee, and as is CESA procedure, it has to go to plenary (and that’s what happened today). We have already received the last quarter of 2024, but we simply haven’t received the annual report for 2024. As it is the Economic Council’s practice to analyze the last report of a year together with the annual report, we are waiting for the 2024 report to be sent so that we can make a more global analysis. I would remind you that we are already in June 2025, which means we are two quarters behind schedule.”

Also unanimously approved during the plenary session was a proposal from the Specialized Standing Committee on Education and Training to conduct a study on the NEET population (young people who neither study nor work), including those who are inactive and unemployed. The aim is to provide a basis for intersectoral public policies, involving not only Education and Training, but also the Economy, Development, and Social Action sectors.

The session also featured a speech by Miguel Monjardino, who addressed the social impacts of political, economic, and geostrategic dynamics. Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Autonomy of the Azores, which will be celebrated in 2026, Monjardino defended the need to rethink the Region’s political-administrative model, given contemporary challenges and the new demands of Azorean society.

From Correio dos Açores – Natalino Viveiros

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.