A conference on the topic “The Azores, A Gateway to Europe” will take place on Thursday, April 21, from 1:00pm to 3:30 pm, at  The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD), LARTS Conference Room 374.

Guest speakers are Prof. Luís Andrade, Professor of Political Science and International Relations addressing “The Azores in the context of transatlantic relations;”   Carlos Amaral, Professor of Political Philosophy and European Studies, on the topic “The Autonomous Region of the Azores in the context of the European Union;” and Steven Barbosa, President of the Azorean Regional Forum of the European Youth Parliament, presenting “The Azores in the 21st Century.”  

The event is co-sponsored by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture, the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives, the Department of Political Science, and the Government of the Azores through the Regional Directorship for the Communities and the Regional Directorship for Youth.

The colloquium will explore political, economic, and social issues facing the Autonomous Region of Azores today. The focus is on the role the Azores played since WWII as an Atlantic post between the United States and Europe.

Issues relating to the development of economy of the Azores will be addressed with a focus on the Azores in the context of the European Union as an ultra-peripheral region..

 The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Use parking lot 1.

For more information 508-999-8255.