Miguel Albuquerque argues that RUP cannot be relegated second plan

O head of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, today argued that the cohesion and specificities of the ultraperipheral regions cannot be put in the background of the global context by the European Union.

The regional leader spoke in XXX Conference of the Presidents of the RUPs, which took place on the island of Guadeloupe and brought together the various leaders of these territories, to address “the priorities and challenges, in a context in which the European Union faces economic, political and military threats and a reconfiguration of the international order”, reads in the paper released by the Presidency the Government of Madeira.

This situation “has contributed to a redefinition of the priorities of the 27 and the European Commission, with an impact on the proposal of the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028 – 2034”.

Miguel Albuquerque argued that this framework, “in line with the new strategy for the RUPs, should ensure adequate funding in order to continue to leverage the potential of the regions and the economic and social progress that has been achieved”.

In his view, this is “a legitimate expectation”, since “the constraints of ultraperiphery are structural and permanent, and may even increase in the current context – at the level of security in supply or mobility”.

For this reason, he added, “any reduction in European funding to the outermost regions is conceivable in view of the current period 2021 – 2027”.

Albuquerque also highlighted the “always challenges, such as agriculture and fisheries”, namely the importance of financial support for the renewal of the artisanal fishing fleet.

He also mentioned the very large economic dependence on tourism, pointing out that “the existence of economic diversification strategies and the dependence on air and sea transport on the mobility of people and goods” is crucial.

The “digitalisation of the economy as the historic opportunity for the blurring of many of the constraints of the RUPs and their greater integration into the world markets and economic diversification” were other aspects mentioned by the island leader.

The Madeiran leader also highlighted the need for a “joint treatment for the RUPs, in the context of the current negotiations, regardless of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

He welcomed the new strategy presented by the Commission for the Overseas Regions, stressing “it will only make sense if it is embodied in concrete actions and tangible results”.

The regional leader also stressed the importance of defending the Ultraperiphery Statute, stressing that “it cannot be called into question by any global context, given the specificities of the UPRs and that it differentiates them from the continental regions of the European Union”.

Miguel Albuquerque took over the presidency of the Conference of Presidents of the RUP, which is rotating.

This is the main structure of political and technical cooperation between the presidents of the executive bodies of the Azores, Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Maiote, Réunion and Saint-Martin.

One of its priorities is “the strengthening of the defence of the common interests of the nine regions with the European institutions, at a decisive time for the definition of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2035 and for the implementation of European policies with an impact on the outermost regions”, the note issued by the Presidency of the Government of Madeira highlights.