The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, will be present at the PSD/Madeira party on the 20th of July, the President of the Regional Government said today, predicting that the mainland Prime Minister will announce a set of decisions on pending issues currently affecting the region.
The President of the Madeiran executive, of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition, was speaking to journalists upon arrival at Madeira Airport, about his meeting with the Prime Minister and his inclusion in the Defence Superior Council meeting.
Miguel Albuquerque indicated that the meeting with Montenegro lasted about an hour and “went very well,” stressing that the topics discussed were already known to the Prime Minister and already on his agenda; however, bureaucracy is creating some difficulties.
The head of the Madeiran executive assured that “the Prime Minister took notes of the dossiers,” adding that at the PSD/Madeira party, in Chão da Lagoa, he should already have a set of decisions that have already been implemented or are about to be undertaken.”
Miguel Albuquerque said that the resolution of the Council of Ministers that is necessary for the Government of Madeira to launch the third phase of the construction work of the new Central and University Hospital of Madeira “is ready” and should be approved soon.
At today’s meeting, the Madeiran official also highlighted the need to try to resolve the difficulties surrounding the Regional Finance Law, as Lisbon has made it known that Madeira will not receive monies from the National Cohesion Fund, due to its economic success.
Regarding the second aerial firefighting means, initially scheduled to start operating in Madeira on the 1st of July, Miguel Albuquerque stressed that he asked Montenegro “to intervene personally and politically” in the issue, noting that the delay is due to the early legislative elections held in May.
The launch of the tender for a ferry between the region and the mainland will also be launched by the Government of the Republic, Albuquerque also assured, without giving further details.
The return of VAT (Value Added Tax) to the Social Solidarity Institutions that are investing under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the extension of the Madeira Free Trade Zone regime, and the extra costs with the health subsystems for the professionals of the GNR, PSP and Armed Forces, which are being borne by the region, were other topics addressed.
Miguel Albuquerque also indicated that the working group to determine the amount owed to Madeira related to these extra costs, which amount to “more than 67 million euros,” will resume.
The issues are pending, they are eminently political issues, some of them are stuck in the usual and byzantine bureaucracy, but the Prime Minister has taken good note of the issues, which are fundamental for the resolution of the problems affecting Madeira,” confirmed the region’s President.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
