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Portugal holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from today, and at a difficult time: the corona pandemic continues to determine life in the Union. But the country also wants to put accents.
By Oliver Neuroth, ARD Studio Madrid
Enrique Varum is a bit proud that his country of origin obtained the presidency of the EU. He himself enjoys every day an advantage of the EU, the free movement of workers. The engineer from nearby Porto can easily work in neighboring Spain. Europe brought progress to Portugal, he says.
“Portugal has always been one of the poor countries in Europe. The EU supported us financially, so criticism of Europe was limited,” says Varum. “Only when we entered the serious crisis, about ten years ago, and Europe wanted to control our budget and austerity efforts, that did not go so well. The ‘Troika’ is still a bad word for us. So Europe, when it arrives aid, the opposite happens when Europe controls us. “
New EU aid for the country
Aid from Brussels is expected to return shortly: Portugal expects around 26 billion euros from the EU’s Crown aid package, which is meant to help the economy emerge from the crisis. Money that the minority government of the Portuguese Socialist Party urgently needs to maintain its rather social democratic course. That says: drive social improvements for people.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa enters the presidency of the Council of the EU with exactly this motto. Europe should become more social. Presenting the Portuguese goals for the next six months in Brussels recently, he said: “Social policy is essential to give confidence to people at a time that is marked, among other things, by climate change,” he explains. “No one should be left behind. All are needed, they are on board.” People should believe in a stronger and better Europe, one that resolutely tackles climate change and can tackle digital change.
The next point on Portugal’s agenda: Europe should become more digital. Prime Minister Costa wants, for example, that communication between citizens and authorities is easier and that more can be done through portals or online applications. Portugal itself is showing what it is like during the Crown crisis: the Portuguese can apply for a new identity card completely online.
Greater focus on education
Portugal also wants more money for digital education projects in Europe. Political scientist Mónica Dias from the Catholic University of Lisbon considers this to be an important link with social policy: “You cannot be social today without creating digital inclusivity. All citizens must be able to share digital advantages. There are still many families in Europe who don’t have a computer. “
Crown remains a central theme …
But before Portugal can work towards a more social and digital Europe at EU level, it must address the health crisis. The coronavirus will also determine life in all member states in the new year: the vaccination campaign will eclipse the Presidency of the Council. Prime Minister Costa promises: “We want to guarantee everyone access to vaccination. Vaccines must be effective in fighting the virus. They must be distributed fairly and available to all Europeans. Our goal must be global immunity against Covid.” .
… also Brexit
Another topical issue that the Portuguese Presidency cannot ignore is Brexit. With the start of the EU presidency, Britain left the community, after all, with a last-minute deal. Portugal and Great Britain share a long history. Historians date the first strategic partnership between Lisbon and London in the year 1386.
British support has always been vitally important to Portugal, for example to assert itself against neighboring Spain’s claims to power and to maintain independence. More recently, most tourists came to Portugal from Great Britain. “I think that right now it is positive that the presidency of the European Union is being held by a country so close to England and such a friend of England,” says political scientist Monica Dias.
However, the close relationship with Great Britain could also put Portugal in a difficult role, that is, when it comes to appearing as the voice of the 27 EU states and not as a British friend: “Portugal will always try to make England be like this for the next six months it’s good to get involved and still get the best for England. “
Better contacts with India?
In terms of foreign policy, Portugal would also like to intensify contacts with more distant countries during its presidency. Specifically, it is about India. A country in which European companies have had a hard time so far. India applies horrendous tariffs on imports, and there is hardly a European car on the road.
Portugal wants to change that, explains Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in an interview with the ARD-Studio Madrid: “The unity of the European Union vis-à-vis the world could be more geopolitically balanced. For this, we have to look towards the Indo-Pacific region and resume political dialogue with India, as well as economic relations. India is the largest democracy in the world, we must never forget that. “
Portugal is planning an Indian summit in the spring. Relations between the two countries are considered excellent. Until the 1960s, Portugal was a colonial power in what is now the Indian state of Goa. Prime Minister Costa’s family comes from there; India granted him honorary citizenship.
But even if economic agreements between the EU and India seem difficult to reach at first (India wants to protect and strengthen its own industry), rapprochement may be important for Europe, says political scientist Dias: “Look India: if you continue to ally with Europe You can also continue to South America and Africa through our continent. These connections, these bridges are very important. “
Little time for big goals
The list of pending tasks for the Portuguese Presidency is long. And it must be clear to her that half a year is only enough to give impulses, to set trends. What Germany has achieved in its presidency is hard to beat, says Dias, referring to the new investment agreement between the EU and China, which was still underway in the last few meters: “That was also an advantage, perhaps, that It was Germany with strong economic power Portugal has to consider: “What are our capabilities? Where is our potential? What can we contribute? “And Portugal simply considers that the social and the global are very important.”
Portugal has a tradition of appearing calm and balanced on the political stage, seeking and finding compromises. And Prime Minister Costa is also considered a talented negotiator, which is not the worst prerequisite for this presidency of the EU Council.
