José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Azores Regional Government, stated at the University of Madeira that Atlantic island regions, such as the Azores and Madeira, should be viewed not just as territories needing support, but as "regions of opportunity" for Portugal and the European Union.
Speaking at an open lecture hosted by the Master's in Community Development at UMa, Bolieiro emphasized that island autonomy enhances the Atlantic dimension and that its historical claim, following periods of "abandonment and isolation," led to the constitutional recognition of self-governance.
Bolieiro also addressed the need for territorial and social cohesion within the autonomous regions themselves, arguing they must set an example with policies ensuring continuity and the legitimacy of their external claims. He also acknowledged difficulties in relations with the national government, despite belonging to the same political area, and the necessity of "conquerors against centralism."
