"On the eve of the European elections and on the day of the celebration of the conquest of autonomy, it is not excessive to highlight the centrality that the Azores have in the Euro-Atlantic projection, especially in the construction and affirmation of the Portuguese project in Europe. We have the onus of reiterating this centrality, especially with political actors outside the region," said Pedro Neves.

The PAN/Azores deputy also spoke at the solemn session of the Day of the Azores, which this year takes place at the headquarters of the Legislative Assembly, in the city of Horta, Faial Island.

In his opinion, the focus of the autonomous mission "also involves deepening the relationship of the Azores with Portugal and with Europe, assuming, without fear, the geostrategic position of the Azores in the Euro-Atlantic context, without prejudice to the dimension that the air and the sea of the Azores give to Portugal and to Europe".

"The oceanic centrality of the sea of the Azores makes this the largest regional asset. And its management should be the responsibility of the Azores. We do not accept the quality of mere consultants in the management of our heritage and what defines us," he said.

The PAN regional deputy recalled in his speech that, in the four decades of emancipation and autonomous construction, the region has witnessed several challenges imposed during the consolidation of the different stages of its mission, "in a perspective of combating the limitations imposed by the natural condition of insularity".

"It should be noted that the origin of our autonomy aroused interest at the heart of international relations, being a pioneer in the construction of its model, aiming at a dynamic evolutionary process, which has always impelled us to tread a winding path towards the maturation of self-affirmation in the national and world context," he recalled.

Pedro Neves also said that this model is largely due to the appreciation of the specificities of the archipelago, "composed of unique ecosystems", whether they are "social, academic, scientific, cultural, financial or natural".

"It is the harmonious coexistence of these ecosystems that make up the DNA of our identity matrix, with an unparalleled ethnographic stamp: the Azorean identity," he justified.

According to the sole deputy of PAN/Azores "it is this insular fado that gives Portugal and Europe its current territorial dimension, whether by air, land or sea".

Autonomy "is not just an administrative mechanism or a political prerogative, it is the expression of our identity," he stressed.

The celebrations that take place today in the city of Horta are a joint organization of the Legislative Assembly and the Azorean Regional Government, following the institution of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in 1980, to commemorate the Azorean identity and autonomy.

The date, a regional holiday, is celebrated on the Monday of the Holy Spirit.

In the solemn session, 31 Azorean honorary insignia will be awarded, which aim to distinguish citizens and entities that have distinguished themselves "for personal or institutional merits, acts, civic deeds or for services rendered to the region".

Two autonomous insignia of value, ten of recognition, two of professional merit, three of industrial, commercial and agricultural merit and 14 autonomous insignia of civic merit will be awarded.

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