Coast. “We have already managed to contain the pandemic without killing the economy”

Prime Minister António Costa on Tuesday promised faster support for the reopening of economic activities, arguing that the pandemic of the new coronavirus is under control and that it is time to take measures to revive the economy.

“Now that we have managed to contain the spread of the pandemic without killing the economy, it is essential to revive the economy without letting the pandemic run amok,” said the government leader after signing a statement of commitment with the social partners he led. to the headlines of the pandemic. CAP, CIP, CCP, CTP and UGT, not counting the subscription of CGTP, and facing the challenge of the tourism sector so that the support changes and takes the form of capital injections in companies.

In response, António Costa said that, on the part of the government, businessmen will be able to count, “not only with a permanent dialogue, but also with a very strong determination to try to take it, as quickly and as quickly as possible. , the necessary measures to overcome this crisis together ”.

At the signing, in the Ajuda National Palace, the Prime Minister took stock of the state support mobilized for the credit lines to the various sectors affected by the pandemic, for a global amount of 6.2 billion euros and which is exhausted for the Most sectors. The value of the public guarantees granted to secure bank financing is five billion euros, he said.

António Costa justified the delays in rationalizing this support. “Loans are not distributed money, they are contracted money. It is very important for the recovery that we all have confidence in the destiny of public money and the guarantee of taxpayers’ money, ”he said.

“What must be made viable are the companies that are viable, they are companies that are in crisis because they have been affected by this virus and they do not really feed the companies that will cost taxpayers money tomorrow,” the Prime Minister defended.

On the other hand, Costa reiterated the commitment that, until Friday, Social Security support will be paid to companies with a request for access to the simplified dismissal presented in April and that has been approved.

But, said the Prime Minister, the adoption of new support measures will now depend on the response that is given at the European level, at a time when the EU Recovery Fund, as well as the multi-annual financial framework of the European bloc has not yet has been defined. next year.

“The battle in Europe is also essential so that we have the ideal conditions to guarantee this recovery. Because this recovery requires more investment, more capital in companies, more public investment, more effort in professional training, more social support measures. And for that, we need European support, ”he said.

António Costa also recalled that Portuguese exports amounted to 44% of GDP in February and argued that the Portuguese recovery will largely depend on the behavior of the Spanish and German economies, two of the country’s main trading partners. “We need them to resume and we need Europe to help us,” he said.

Updated at 12:20 pm