The Regional Directorates for Communities of the Governments of the Azores and Madeira are hosting the Azores–Madeira Conference, titled “50 Years of Autonomy in the Communities,” throughout the month of February, with sessions in Ponta Delgada and Funchal.

Among the featured speakers are former presidents of the regional governments, João Bosco Mota Amaral and Alberto João Jardim. The conference will conclude with remarks by the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro.

The first session, commemorating half a century of institutional ties between the regional governments and their respective diasporas, will take place this Thursday, February 19, at the Auditorium of the Public Library and Regional Archive of Ponta Delgada. The event is free and open to the public.

The conference begins at 6:00 p.m. with opening remarks from José Andrade, Regional Director for Communities of the Government of the Azores, and Sancho Gomes, Regional Director for Communities and External Cooperation of the Government of Madeira.

At 6:15 p.m., the first panel will feature Carlos Madruga da Costa, President of the Board of the Casa dos Açores in Madeira, and Duarte Nuno Chaves, President of the General Assembly of the Casa da Madeira in the Azores. The panel will be moderated by Francisco Viveiros, President of the Casa dos Açores of New England.

The second panel, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., will bring together former officials responsible for Community Affairs in the Governments of the Azores and Madeira—Duarte Mendes and João Carlos Abreu—under the moderation of Sancho Gomes.

At 7:00 p.m., the third and final panel will convene former Presidents of the Regional Governments of the Azores and Madeira, João Bosco Mota Amaral and Alberto João Jardim, moderated by José Andrade.

The conference will close at 7:30 p.m. with the participation of the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, and the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro.

This initiative forms part of the commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of political autonomy in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. It seeks to foster a shared reflection on the role of Azorean and Madeiran communities in affirming regional identity, strengthening institutional cooperation, and contributing to the development of both regions over the past five decades.

The conference is jointly organized by the Regional Directorate for Communities of the Government of the Azores and the Regional Directorate for Communities and External Cooperation of the Government of Madeira.

The second session of this commemorative conference will take place in the Autonomous Region of Madeira on February 26, at the auditorium of the Casa da Luz Museum in Funchal.

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.