The event, expected to feature 450 athletes from 50 countries, will now due to start on April 30 and finish on May 7. 

It had originally been due to take place from May 15 to 21, which would have overlapped with the Championships organised by the European Swimming League at the Aquatics Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London between May 9 and 22. 

"We want to ensure that the eyes of the world are on Para-swimmers during the European Open, and that fans and the media can enjoy Funchal 2016 without having to choose between our event and other major international swimming competitions happening at the time," said Agnes Szilak, the IPC swimming sport manager.

"The Portuguese Swimming Federation have been working hard to ensure we can meet this aspiration, and we are delighted and grateful that they were able to be flexible with the dates."

The event in Funchal is being run as an open event by IPC as it is the last major swimming competition before the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro and they want to give as many competitors as possible an opportunity to post qualifying times. 

The Championships are due to take place in the accessible €25 million (£18 mllion/$28 million) Complexo Olimpico de Piscinas da Penteada.

The complex, opened in 2004 in the heart of Funchal, is set over an impressive five floors and includes an Olympic-size competition pool, a diving pool, a 25 metre pool and a training pool.

The Opening Ceremony is due to take place on 30 April, before competition is scheduled to start the following day. 

The 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships were held in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where Ukraine finished top of the medals table with 37 gold, 29 silver and 28 bronze medals.

Russia were second with 34 golds, 32 silver and 29 bronze, whilst Great Britain, finished third with 30 golds, 27 silver and 16 bronze.

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