The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, argued today in Ponta Delgada that “the Azores also add value to the European project,” emphasizing that the Region is not only a beneficiary of EU support but also a territory that contributes to innovation, science, and international cooperation.

“Without the support of the European Union, we would hardly have achieved the level of progress we know today, but it is equally important to emphasize that the relationship between the Azores and Europe is not one-sided,” said President Luís Garcia this morning at the conference on “The role of the European Union in the development of the Azores: Opportunities for Engineering,“ promoted by the Azores Regional Section of the Order of Technical Engineers.

Regarding the geostrategic position that makes the Azores ”an anchor point for Europe in decisive matters,” the President of the Azorean Parliament also highlighted that the Region actively contributes to European innovation and science, citing as examples “cutting-edge projects” such as the installation of the Portuguese Space Agency in Santa Maria, the creation of the European Deep Sea Observatory in Faial, and the future Atlantic Climate Observatory in Terceira.

“We have a territory where it is possible to test, on a real scale, solutions that can then be applied throughout Europe. Therefore, the Azores are not just a region that receives funds. They are also a living laboratory for science, technology, and sustainability,” said President Luís Garcia.

On that occasion, the President of the Legislative Assembly considered that, also in the field of engineering, the Azores have much to contribute to the European project, especially in matters of innovation, considering that “the Region offers a unique environment for testing solutions in areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, mobility, and advanced technological networks,” allowing not only local development but also the creation of knowledge and practices that can be applied throughout the European Union.

From the ALRAA press release. Below is the speech given by Luís Garcia, President of the Regional Assembly, on the subject.

It is with great honour that I preside today over this closing session of the conference dedicated to the theme, The Role of the European Union in the Development of the Azores: Opportunities for Engineering.

I would like to begin by thanking you for the invitation to be here with you. It is always a privilege to share reflections on issues that are absolutely central to the future of our Region.

I would also like to extend a word of recognition to the organizers of this initiative, especially the President of the Regional Section of the Order of Technical Engineers, Engineer Sara Pavão, and to all the speakers who have brought us valuable contributions throughout this morning.

The relationship between the Azores and the European Union is a story made of closeness, solidarity, and future. But that future must be built on the principles and foundations of the European project. Our status as an outermost region, enshrined in the European treaties, is not just a legal detail or a political formality. It is the recognition that our reality is distinct and that, to ensure fair and balanced development conditions, we need policies adapted to our specificities.

Insularity, distance from the European mainland, and remoteness from markets were solid arguments for the European Union to recognize the need to support regions like ours in a differentiated way. Thanks to this recognition, the Azores have benefited from essential EU funds over the past few decades to modernize our infrastructure, enhance our productive sectors, and develop our islands.

Without the support of the European Union, we would hardly have achieved the level of progress we know today.

But it is equally important to underline that the relationship between the Azores and Europe is not one-way. We also add value to the European project. Our geostrategic position, in the heart of the Atlantic, makes the Azores an anchoring point for Europe in decisive matters. We are a natural bridge between continents, a territory of excellence in observation and scientific research, and a platform for international security and cooperation. We all have the responsibility to affirm this reality.

Projects such as the establishment of the Portuguese Space Agency in Santa Maria, the creation of the European Deep-Sea Observatory in Faial, or the future Atlantic Climate Observatory in Terceira confirm that the Region is increasingly becoming a space for experimentation and innovation with European impact.

It is no coincidence that pioneering projects in these and other areas are being established here. The Azores are uniquely positioned to contribute to European innovation in many fields. We are a territory where it is possible to test, on a real scale, solutions that can later be applied throughout the European space.

That is why the Azores are not just a region that receives funds. They are also a living laboratory of science, technology, and sustainability. The Azores are also decisive in the so-called new priorities of the European Union, particularly in matters of Security and Defense. We are a Region capable of generating knowledge and opportunities that strengthen Europe’s role in the world. And it is precisely here that technical engineers play a central role.

This strategic position and scientific potential can be transformed into concrete results only with modern infrastructures, innovative energy solutions, efficient mobility systems, and advanced technological networks. Without engineers, many of these ambitions would remain on paper. Engineering is, in many aspects, the practical expression of what is decided in political offices and parliaments.

It is thanks to the work of these professionals that European funds are translated into concrete solutions, bringing islands closer together and driving development forward.

Thus, the current challenge is to leverage European support for growth, but we also want to demonstrate that we can give back—placing our contribution, including that of our engineering, at the service of a more cohesive, innovative, and sustainable Europe.

September 6, 2025

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