• Vaccines, green light from EU to Pfizer-BioNTech.

    Von der Leyen: "Vaccinations start on 27"

  • European Council, Michel announces: "Agreement on Recovery Fund reached"

Share

05 January 2021The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, met the Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, in Lisbon, on the occasion of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU.

"These are difficult times, but we can come out stronger if we fight Covid-19 together and join the paths of economic recovery," he said.



No one back

"Welcome to Portugal, Charles Michel, for the first official meeting" of the Portuguese EU presidency, wrote Portugal's premier Antonio Costa in a tweet.

"Together we will work for a stronger Europe, more present in the lives of citizens, a leader in climate action and the digital transition, without leaving anyone behind".



The priorities

"Economic recovery, climate and digital transition and external relations": these are the three priorities of the Portuguese EU presidency set out by Prime Minister Antonio Costa who today welcomed the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Lisbon.

"After the extraordinary work done by Germany, now the 27 different Recovery plans will have to be approved", explained Costa.



Brutal year

"2020 was a brutal year. We have not yet emerged from the crisis, we have gigantic challenges ahead of us. Before the end of January there will be a videoconference at the level of heads of state and government to once again address management of this crisis that still affects us ".

This was announced by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, at the joint press conference with the Portuguese premier, Antonio Costa, in Llisbona.



Vaccines

"In the next few hours we expect a second vaccine to be approved so that more doses are available."

Charles Michel said this in the joint press conference with the Portuguese premier, Antonio Costa.



New migration policy

Portugal has started consultations with other EU countries to find common ground for a new migration policy which has caused humanitarian crises and deep political divisions in the bloc.

Portugal is working on a concept of "flexible and obligatory solidarity" between countries.

A meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers is already scheduled for January 28th.

But migration from outside the EU requires members of the bloc to be united and "solidarity cannot be voluntary," the Portuguese statement states, "the main objective must be to prevent people who are looking for of a better life in Europe remain for long periods of time in temporary accommodation without any clarification about their future ".



Portugal wants to reach a comprehensive migration agreement with countries along the southern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, from where many migrants cross the EU.

This should include not only strict border controls, but also rules on legal migration and development aid, the statement said.