Calling for “respect for the interests of the people of Pico,” the island’s municipalities have joined forces, urging the President of the Regional Government to take a definitive position on the long-awaited expansion of the airport—an essential project that residents have been demanding for years, according to a statement.

The Association of Municipalities of Pico Island (AMIP) met on Wednesday with the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, agreeing on a joint action plan to move forward with the expansion of Pico Airport.

Municipal leaders and the Regional Government aligned their strategies, establishing multiple forms of institutional cooperation that will make it possible to finance and formally structure regional investment projects. This coordination also opens the door to a potential application for PO2030 funds to carry out the project.

The municipalities also expressed their willingness to join a working group that will be created to defend the airport expansion before UNESCO, since the runway extension lies within the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, a protected World Heritage area.

Satisfied with the commitments made during the meeting, AMIP emphasized that “Pico and its people cannot continue to see the expansion of this essential infrastructure postponed.”

“The expansion of the airport is a decisive step toward the sustainable development of our island,” the association concluded. “This meeting aligned intentions and demonstrated clearly and unequivocally that when institutions work together, Pico moves forward.”

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, director

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.