In a moment shaped by war, shifting priorities, and tightening budgets, the Azores are making their case to Europe with renewed urgency: investment in the islands is not charity—it is strategy.

Speaking before the Regional Legislative Assembly, Azorean President José Manuel Bolieiro delivered a clear message regarding the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034): the current proposal risks overlooking the unique realities of the EU’s outermost regions.

“The European Commission is setting new priorities, particularly in security and defense,” Bolieiro noted, referencing the geopolitical instability triggered by the war in Ukraine. “But it is impossible to do more with less.”

At the heart of the Azorean concern lies Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which recognizes the structural disadvantages of outermost regions like the Azores—insularity, geographic dispersion, and economic vulnerability. Regional leaders fear that these realities are being diluted in the new proposal, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and cohesion funding.

Yet Bolieiro was quick to emphasize that the Azores are not passive observers. The regional government has actively lobbied European institutions, engaging directly with top officials and reinforcing its presence in the Conference of Presidents of Outermost Regions. The goal: ensure fair co-financing rates, protect autonomous funding instruments like POSEI, and resist any centralization of funds under national governments.

“The Atlantic is too important to be forgotten,” Bolieiro declared, framing the Azores as a strategic asset for Europe—not only economically, but geopolitically.

A Region Divided on Strategy

While there is broad consensus on defending the Azores’ interests, political divisions are emerging over how best to do so.

The Socialist Party (PS/Açores) raised alarms about the region’s low execution rate of EU funds—currently just over 15%—arguing that this weakens its negotiating position in Brussels.

“A poor execution record sends the wrong signal,” warned Socialist deputy Vasco Cordeiro. “It suggests the region may not need the funds it is requesting.”

Cordeiro called for a dual strategy: accelerate fund implementation while more assertively communicating the Azores’ value to the European project.

The CDS-PP echoed the need for unity, stressing that the defense of Article 349 and the principle of subsidiarity must remain non-negotiable. The party also highlighted the islands’ geostrategic importance—from safeguarding transatlantic communications cables to contributing to European defense infrastructure.

Warnings Over Militarization

Not all parties are aligned with the EU’s evolving priorities. The Left Bloc issued a stark critique of what it sees as a dangerous pivot toward militarization.

Deputy António Lima warned that increased defense spending will come at the expense of essential sectors such as healthcare, housing, and education.

“Defense does not come from nowhere—it is paid for by what sustains social cohesion,” he argued, cautioning against reducing the Azores to a logistical platform for external strategies.

A Question of Direction

Meanwhile, the Chega party offered a more critical, inward-looking perspective, arguing that the Azores must reduce their dependence on EU subsidies altogether.

“We cannot continue with our hand outstretched,” said parliamentary leader José Pacheco, pointing to inefficiencies in fund execution and a lack of long-term strategic planning.

From agriculture to workforce development, Pacheco questioned whether decades of European funding have translated into sustainable growth, urging a rethinking of priorities—particularly in leveraging the region’s maritime potential.

The Stakes Ahead

As negotiations for the EU’s next long-term budget intensify, the Azores find themselves at a crossroads—caught between opportunity and uncertainty.

What remains clear is that the debate extends beyond numbers. It is about recognition: of geography, of history, and of a region that sees itself not at Europe’s edge, but at the center of its Atlantic horizon.

For Azorean leaders, the message is simple—and urgent: supporting the islands is not an expense to be minimized, but an investment in Europe’s future.

Adapted from a story 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.