The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, presented to the Presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament, on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 December, the programme of his country’s Presidency of the EU Council, which will begin on 1 January. This fourth Portuguese Presidency will focus on social issues (EUROPE 12610/2), culminating in a Social Summit on 7 and 8 May in Porto.
“The main priority of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU is to strengthen and further develop the European platform of social rights”, Mr Costa told the media.
Explaining that the Commission would present an action plan on social rights in April, Mr Costa announced that his country wanted to organise an informal summit with the social partners on 7 May in Porto. The following day, it will be the turn of the European Council to meet to discuss the subject. The aim is to adopt a declaration on the development of social rights.
“The social base is essential for restoring trust with citizens”, the Portuguese Prime Minister explained, warning that no one should be forgotten. “We want an inclusive Europe”, he added.
As the EU moves towards a green and digital transformation, Mr Costa said that the skills of Europeans must be strengthened so that they can participate in the digitalisation process and invest in innovation, so that all businesses, especially SMEs, can strengthen their competitiveness in a globalised world. The Prime Minister also intends to strengthen social protection and believes that the EU must have a health policy.
Beyond social rights, the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council wants to implement the post-Covid economic recovery. “It is time to act, to get results, to start approving and implementing national recovery plans”, Mr Costa said.
Finally, the Prime Minister wants a Europe which is “stronger in terms of strategic autonomy, but also open to the world”. Portugal says it wishes, in particular, to strengthen ties with the United States and Africa, but also with Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region, including New Zealand and Australia. Mr Costa intends to organise an EU-India Summit in Porto on 8 May. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)