The Economic and Social Council of the Azores (CESA) has today been concerned about the 'significant reduction' of the overall amount of the preliminary proposed investment plan for 2027 and has warned of the 'structural challenges' of the region.
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19/10/2026
by
Lusa
ESCA
O The Economic and Social Council of the Azores (CESA) has today been concerned about the 'significant reduction' of the overall amount of the preliminary proposed investment plan for 2027 and has warned of the 'structural challenges' of the region.
"[The ESCA] is concerned that there is a significant reduction in the overall amount that is entered and is concerned that funds will be withdrawn from the Plan and that operating funds will be increased", said the President of the CESA.
Piedade Lalanda spoke to the media in Ponta Delgada after the CESA plenary session, which examined the preliminary proposals for Plan and Budget of the Autonomous Region of the Azores for 2027.
The CESA leader expressed concern about the ‘fragility’ of the Azores in education, housing and demography.
‘The Autonomous Region of the Azores continues to face particularly worrying structural challenges in the field of demography, qualifications, housing and health’, he said.
Piedade Lalanda also warned that a ‘less European funds’ will be transferred to the Azores in 2027, which is expected to be less than EUR 300 million due to the end of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
The president of CESA stressed that the pre-proposal for a budget of the region foresees a deficit of EUR 112 million and an increase in debt of 107 million.
'This is the first post-PRR plan and this is clear from the outset because there is a reduction in the funds entered in the region's budget. Despite the optimistic outlook on economic indicators, the Autonomous Region of the Azores continues to face particularly worrying structural challenges in the areas of demography and qualifications", he said.
As he said, the CESA presented as a ‘fundamental recommendation’ that attention should be paid to the impacts achieved’ on the region’s investments.
"It is essential to ensure that this forecast of funds mainly from European funds, including the fact that the RRP is over, is urgently needed. The CESA warns of the need to consider the recent experiences of the RRP and here reference has been made to the Operational Programme 20230 and perhaps to think of a monitoring structure", he stressed.
The pre-proposal for the Azores Plan for 2027 provides for an overall investment of EUR 1,057 million, 650 ‘direct responsibility’ of the Regional Government, a reduction of 134 and 340,9 million compared to 2026.
The pre-proposals provide for an increase in tourism funding of EUR 17.2 million and point to health as a priority, with an increase in the area from EUR 270 million to a total of EUR 760 million, including debt transformation and state transfers.
The discussion and vote on the Plan and Budget of the Azores for 2027 will take place in November at the Regional Legislative Assembly, in the city of Horta, on the island of Faial.
The Plan and Budget of the region for 2026 were approved in November 2025 with votes in favor of PSD, CDS-PP, PPM, votes against BE, IL and PAN and abstention of the PS and the Enough.