João Oliveira calls for eased access to European funds for Madeira

Member of the European Parliament João Oliveira, from the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), began a working visit to the Autonomous Region of Madeira this week. Organized by CDU-Madeira (Democratic Electoral Unit), this visit saw the deputy reiterate demands for the region to make greater use of European funds and for the simplification of rules for accessing this finance. The main agenda of the visit is the desire to remove bureaucratic obstacles to the effective use of European Union resources, which are critical for the region's economic and social development, and to strengthen existing supports.

On the first day of his visit, João Oliveira held a series of meetings with local government representatives and institution officials in the region. In the first of these meetings, he met with the President of the Madeira Housing Institute to discuss housing problems and potential solutions in the region. Subsequently, in a meeting with the President of the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the difficulties faced by local governments and relations with the central government and the European Union were addressed. These contacts aimed to better understand the specific needs of the region and reflect local dynamics in international financing channels.

According to a statement released following the meetings, Oliveira advocated for an increase in funds allocated to the region and for making the processes to access these funds more user-friendly. It was emphasized that in order to reduce inter-regional development disparities, the European Union's financial aid should be restructured specifically for areas with geographical difficulties like islands. In this context, a call was made for the simplification of complex application procedures and the reduction of bureaucracy so that small-scale projects can also receive a fair share of financing.

João Oliveira's visit and the proposals he brought forward aim to increase Madeira's visibility among European Union policymakers. The PCP deputy carries out lobbying activities in Brussels to ensure that outer regions (ultra-peripheral regions) can benefit maximum from European structural funds. The messages given during the visit serve as a roadmap for how the dialogue established with local actors can be translated into European-level policies.

On the other hand, this visit supported by CDU-Madeira is also of strategic importance for the coalition in demonstrating its sensitivity to regional problems and its solution-oriented policies. The meetings held not only evaluate current financing opportunities but also prepare the ground for Madeira's demands to be voiced more strongly in future financing periods. The close ties established with civil society organizations and local governments in the region play a critical role in creating a shared vision for the future.