[ad_1]
On Friday, Portugal assumed the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union from Germany.
It is a great honor and responsibility to take over from German Chancellor Angela Merkel Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa wrote in his Twitter message.
The southern European country, since joining the EU in 1986, has held this position for the fourth time, and the member states rotate every six months.
The Portuguese presidency will focus on promoting a more resilient, social, digital and greener EU, with its program based on the implementation of this year’s recovery fund to offset the adverse effects of the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic.
In view of the epidemic, it must be ensured that decisions about financial support have a significant impact on people’s lives, livelihoods, access to the labor market and employment opportunities. Our presidency is trying to promote this – Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said in a statement at the end of December.
The presidency has set itself the additional objective of strengthening the social pillar of the European Union, for which a summit will be held in Porto in early May. It also aims to develop the EU’s relations with transatlantic, African, Latin American and Pacific partners.
Portugal will assume the tasks of the German Presidency, the finalization of the EU migration policy and the concrete implementation of the EU-UK post-Brexit Convention.
The term of the Portuguese Presidency ends on June 30, after which Slovenia will assume the six-month term.
[ad_2]
