The Azorean Regional Parliament on Wednesday approved, by a majority vote, a resolution introduced by the Socialist Party in the Azores calling for what it describes as a “responsible, balanced, and humanistic approach to immigration.” The measure argues that the integration, training, and legal regularization of foreign nationals are essential to the Region’s economic and social development.

According to a press release, the resolution put forward by the PS/Açores outlines a set of concrete and feasible measures developed through consultations with economic, social, and training stakeholders. These include vocational training tailored to regional labor needs; expanded Portuguese-language instruction; closer access to the Immigration and Borders Agency (AIMA) through RIAC service centers; the creation of Local Migrant Integration Support Centers in coordination with municipalities; support for employers; streamlined recognition of professional qualifications; and improved data collection to inform public policy.

Speaking during the plenary debate, Socialist lawmaker Marlene Damião, who presented the initiative, noted that over the past decade the number of foreign residents in the Azores has increased by approximately 73 percent, now exceeding 8,000 people. Most, she emphasized, are of working age and already integrated into the labor market.

“This phenomenon is neither isolated nor temporary,” Damião said. “It is the result of a deeply demanding demographic reality. The Azores have faced years of progressive population aging, a sustained decline in birth rates, and a shrinking working-age population on several islands.”

She stressed that without immigration, the demographic losses recorded in the Azores over recent decades “would have been even more severe,” adding that foreign workers are now a cornerstone of strategic sectors such as tourism, hospitality, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Damião also warned against restrictive immigration policies, pointing to what she described as the negative experiences of countries such as Italy and Spain, which later had to reopen regularization pathways due to labor shortages. “The lesson is clear: closing doors does not solve the problem—it makes it worse,” she said.

The Socialist deputy added that some of the resolution’s initial recommendations are already being implemented by both the national government and the Azorean Regional Government, underscoring the role of parliamentary resolutions in improving public policy. Significant gaps remain, however, particularly in the decentralization of services and the recognition of professional skills.

Region aims to remain a model for immigrant integration

Addressing the chamber, the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, said the Azores intend to continue serving as a “model” for immigrant integration, working in collaboration with institutions, political forces, and civil society.

“We want to remain a society that welcomes people in a spirit of solidarity,” Estêvão said. “A society that knows how to integrate—just as our own communities abroad are a source of pride for all of us, respected and valued in the countries where they live. That is our standard.”

He noted that immigration is not a divisive issue in the Azores and has not fueled extreme political rhetoric, attributing this to the record of successive regional governments, opposition parties, and what he described as the hospitable and altruistic nature of the Azorean people.

Estêvão emphasized that immigrants account for less than 4 percent of the Region’s resident population, compared with about 15 percent nationwide. He argued that Azoreans—“one of the world’s most migratory peoples”—have, because of their own history, a heightened sensitivity to migration issues.

He acknowledged, however, that immigration presents significant challenges in areas such as housing, employment, education, and health care. While many legal and regulatory decisions are shaped at the national level, he said, the Region can still do much within its own scope of action.

On the agreement between the Azorean Government and AIMA, which will allow immigrants to be assisted through RIAC centers on all islands, Estêvão conceded that the process has faced constraints but said progress is expected this year. He cited new protocols with civil-society organizations to handle complex regularization cases, the allocation of public space to expand service capacity, and integration initiatives spanning from preschool through higher education. He also announced that all parliamentary parties will now be invited to take part in the annual Migration Forum.

In addition, the Region has produced a Guide to Hiring Foreign Nationals in the Azores, currently under revision to reflect recent legislative changes, aimed at supporting both employers and immigrant workers during the hiring process.

Chega votes against the measure

The resolution was opposed by Chega (ultra-right-wing party), which argued that it amounted to “compulsory legalization measures for immigrants and their families.” Parliamentary leader José Pacheco said Azorean emigrants should not be compared to current migration flows into Portugal, claiming that while Azoreans abroad respect the laws and cultures of their host countries, some recent immigrants to Portugal show “disrespect” toward national culture and rights.

Lawmaker Hélia Cardoso acknowledged that integration and training initiatives can be beneficial, both for immigrants’ understanding of their rights and duties and for Azorean society as a whole. However, she warned against prioritizing immigrants at the expense of local residents and said the resolution, while well-intentioned, lacked concrete measures and would have little real-world impact.

In Correio dos Açores – Natalino 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.