Portal da Açorianidade

The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, is holding this year’s second ordinary meeting of the Regional Advisory Council for Immigration Affairs (CCRAI) on December 9 at 10 a.m. at the Edifício do Relógio, German Colony, in the city of Horta. This advisory body of the Regional Government is chaired by the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão. It aims to ensure the participation and collaboration of associations representing immigrants, social partners, social solidarity institutions, and other organisations that provide social and cultural support to immigrants in defining and coordinating policies for social integration and combating exclusion. The agenda for this second biannual 2024 meeting includes the presentation of the latest statistics on foreign citizens living in the Azores, and the main activities carried out in 2024 and to be carried out in 2025 to promote interculturality in the Azores by AIPA – Association of Immigrants in the Azores, chaired by Leoter Viegas, CRESAÇOR’s Migrant Support Office, coordinated by Ana Silva, and the Regional Directorate for the Communities, headed by José Andrade. The CCRAI comprises the regional directors for the Communities, Education and Educational Administration, Social Solidarity, Employment and Vocational Training, Health and the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion. It also includes representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores, AIPA – Association of Immigrants in the Azores, CRESAÇOR –   Regional Cooperative of Solidarity Economy/Migrant Support Office, ASIBA-Association of Brazilian Immigrants in the Azores, the Regional Union of Private Social Solidarity Institutions of the Azores, the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the National Republican Guard, the Public Security Police, the Criminal Investigation Police and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, I.P. Established in 2002, the CCRAI has as its main mission to collaborate in developing social integration policies for immigrants aimed at eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities and participate in the definition of measures and actions contributing to the improvement of immigrants’ living conditions and the defence of their rights. As such, the Azorean Government has implemented a policy aimed at developing initiatives and strategies to promote the full integration of immigrant citizens, acknowledging their active contribution to the enrichment of Azorean society in various areas.