1. Some regions live by virtue of their location. Others, at certain moments, are called upon to turn that location into a strategic advantage. The Azores clearly belong to the latter. The archipelago’s position in the Atlantic, the expanse of its maritime zone, its place between Europe and North America, and the value of its natural resources give it an importance that cannot be measured solely by its resident population or the immediate weight of its economy. The challenge is to turn that centrality into investment, employment, knowledge, culture and expertise—and, above all, better living conditions for Azoreans.
2. The week now drawing to a close has once again placed the blue economy at the heart of regional debate. The Smart Oceans Forum, held on Terceira with participants from the Azores and Catalonia, opened discussion on ocean governance, innovation, science, infrastructure, and the green and digital transitions. More than an exercise in institutional cooperation, the gathering confirms that the future of island territories will depend, to a great extent, on their ability to work together: bringing universities, businesses, public authorities and communities into a shared effort to turn scientific knowledge into dependable economic activity.
3. The ocean economy cannot remain an abstract formula or a promise repeated without practical consequence. In the Azores, we must begin by strengthening oceanographic research, supporting fisheries, modernizing ports, developing new activities in marine biotechnology, and ensuring that the protection of ecosystems can coexist with the creation of wealth.
4. That balance calls for dialogue and fairness. Applications have opened for a compensation mechanism worth a total of €6.54 million through 2028 for fishers affected by the creation of marine protected areas. It is a recognition that conserving the sea carries real costs for communities whose livelihoods depend upon it. Environmental protection will endure only if it is accompanied by economic justice and a measure of predictability for those who work in the sector.
5. Europe’s discussion of the future of its outermost regions adds another dimension to this debate. The European Union has increasingly recognized that territories such as the Azores cannot be judged by the same criteria applied to continental regions. Distance, insularity, territorial fragmentation, energy and transport costs, and exposure to natural hazards are structural realities, not passing circumstances. Cohesion Policy, European funds, and measures designed specifically for the outermost regions therefore remain essential. Any revision of European policies must preserve this distinction, lest formal equality become another form of inequality in practice.
6. The European Commission’s proposal to make €261 million available to Portugal through the European Union Solidarity Fund, following the storms and floods recorded at the beginning of the year, is important.
7. The Azores, too, must have a place in that fund. Storms strike the islands as well. When disaster comes, the Republic promises assistance to repair the damage, yet that assistance too often seems to “evaporate,” failing to arrive when it is needed. The Azores know the effects of extreme weather all too well: roads destroyed, supply networks damaged, ports left impaired, and the resulting interruption of sea and air connections making it harder to keep the islands supplied.
8. Adaptation to climate change cannot mean repairing the damage only after disaster strikes. It requires planning, maintenance, sound land use, and investment in infrastructure able to withstand an increasingly unstable climate. This also invites a regional reflection. Portugal has increased the share of renewable sources in electricity generation and is discussing greater storage capacity. The Azores, however, face a distinct reality shaped by geographic dispersion, isolated power grids, and high production and distribution costs. The energy transition can reduce dependence, strengthen the security of supply, and create new opportunities for the regional economy, but it must be backed by investment suited to the circumstances of each island. Decarbonization will not succeed unless it is also a policy of territorial cohesion.
9. To these priorities we must add the strategic importance of the Atlantic. In today’s international climate, marked by uncertainty, technological competition, and growing concern for the security of shipping routes and undersea infrastructure, the Azores once again assume a relevance far beyond their population size. That relevance must be exercised responsibly and translated into lasting benefits for the Region.
10. Strategic presence, scientific cooperation, and logistical capacity will have true value only if they help educate and equip young people, create jobs, modernize businesses, and improve public services. The Azores need not choose between environmental preservation and economic development, between their maritime heritage and technological innovation, or between their own identity and international cooperation. What they need is a coherent strategy that brings these dimensions together and sustains them beyond political cycles. Atlantic centrality is an opportunity, but it is not, in itself, a solution. To become a future, it must be met with sound decisions, competence, transparency, and the ability to deliver.
11. This is the Region’s real challenge: to be known for more than its place on a map and to establish itself as a center of knowledge, sustainability, security and, above all, the capacity to create value. In a changing world, the Azores have every reason to gain and deepen their international importance. What remains is to ensure that this importance brings concrete progress, day after day, to the people who live and work here.
Américo Natalino Viveiros