Azores funding enters talks on the next EU budget

Funding for the EU’s outermost regions, including the Azores, has become part of negotiations over the Union’s 2028-2034 budget. In a joint letter made public on 29 September, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and French President Emmanuel Macron called for adequate support for these territories in the next financial framework.

The three leaders want current cofinancing rates to continue and support to be maintained at least at the level provided under the existing EU budget. They also ask for a dedicated allocation for outermost regions to be included in the negotiating mandate. Their letter sets out a shared political position; it does not announce an approved allocation or specify an amount for the Azores.

The nine outermost regions comprise the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and six French territories. Although they belong to the EU, they are far from continental Europe. Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union recognizes their particular conditions, including remoteness and insularity. Portugal, Spain and France argue that the next budget should continue to account for those lasting constraints.

For the Azores, the outcome could affect how predictably the region can access EU funding and plan investments during the next budget cycle. The three governments also point to the maritime and strategic importance of the outermost regions. The final form of any dedicated support will depend on the agreement reached for the 2028-2034 EU budget.