Athens, 21 January 2021

European Affairs Committee briefed on Portuguese Presidency priorities

The priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council was the subject on the agenda of today's European Affairs Committee meeting, on the occasion of Portugal assuming the rotating presidency of the EU on 1st January 2021 – for the fourth time in its history. The members of the Committee were briefed by the Ambassador of Portugal in Greece Mrs. Helena Paiva. 

In his introductory remarks, the 1st Vice-chair of the Committee, who chaired the session, Mr. Dimitris Keridis, welcomed the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency, especially the importance attached to the social dimension and the need to support the European social model, after more than ten years of its being eroded, as a result of the financial crisis and the pandemic. He underlined the interest of our country to swiftly and effectively implement the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Recovery Fund, on which will depend the growth rate of the European economy, pointing out the necessity to create – for the first time – common European tools, that will complement the national fiscal stabilizers. Finally, Mr. Keridis referred to the significant contribution of Portugal in managing the migration crisis, both by accepting to relocate refugees in its territory and by contributing to the protection of the external borders. 

Mrs. Paiva presented the five main priorities of the Portuguese presidency, - resilience of the Union, a social, green, digital and global Europe – noting that they are based on the very principles that prompted Portugal to join the European Community in 1986. She pointed out that with a deal on the MFF and vaccination succesfully proceeding, the EU now has the vision, the programme and the financial tools that allow it to respond to the social dimension of the crisis and to fulfill the Union's strategic goals, which is what the citizens expect after all. 

When answering questions by Greek MPs and MEPs, Mrs. Paiva noted that the Portuguese PM supports the proposal of PM Mitsotakis to adopt common rules on a digital certificate, underlining the importance of tourism for the economies of both countries. Regarding the migration issue, Mrs. Paiva – recognizing Greece's contribution as a front line state – stressed that the objective of the Portuguese Presidency is for there to be an agreement, on a single mechanism, which will be resilient and reliable and which will be based on a fair allocation of duties and responsibilities. Lastly, the Portuguese Ambassador underlined her country's opposition to unlawful claims and threats against the sovereign rights of EU member states, pointing out that the Portuguese Presidency will defend the EU's interests, and the interests of its member states, in order to ensure regional stability. 

Summing up, she called on Greek MPs to submit their proposals in writing, so that they can be put to good use by the Portuguese presidency. 

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