Azores launches study on migration impact amid calls for data on worker exits

The regional government of the Azores announced that it will commission a study in 2027 to assess the social and economic impact of migration on the archipelago. President José Manuel Bolieiro presented the plan at the V Consular Meeting in Ponta Delgada, noting that foreign residents now make up about 4% of the population and emphasizing the contribution of immigrant communities to the islands' development.

At the same time, the Chega party in the Azores submitted a formal request to the Regional Legislative Assembly to investigate reports that immigrant workers, after obtaining residence permits, are leaving the islands for better conditions elsewhere in Europe. The party highlighted labour shortages in construction and tourism, and asked for official data on the number of migrant workers recruited, the rate of early departures, their training, and possible legislative or protocol changes to improve retention.