Madeira Legislative Assembly marks 40 years of European Union integration

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ALRAM) has approved Resolution no. 15/2026/M, marking 40 years since Portugal's integration into the European Economic Community, now the European Union. The document recognizes the transformative impact of this journey on the region's economic, social, and institutional development.

The resolution highlights the fundamental role of cohesion policy in financing infrastructure, health, education, and administrative modernization, stressing that the Outermost Region (OR) status, enshrined in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is vital to mitigate the additional costs of insularity.

Key deliberations of the Assembly include:

• Defending the full appreciation of the OR status for Madeira and the Azores;
• Strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the Region;
• Promoting debate on the creation of a specific electoral district for ORs in the European Parliament;
• A formal invitation to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Vice-President, Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque to visit Madeira.