Portugal breathes optimism again.

After being the EU's worst-affected country in January, with rampant spread of infection and severe pressure on health care, the disease situation right now is completely different.

In the EU, at present only Finland can report a lower number than Portugal in terms of new cases per capita in recent weeks.

"For the first time in the EU's history, it could be a general agreement that brings together all the social parties and the EU institutions," Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa told the Lusa news agency.

"Equal for all"

What is happening is a "social summit" on Friday with the EU countries' heads of state and government on site, together with trade unions and business and representatives of both the European Parliament and the Commission.

- In Porto, the EU took another step to establish that EU cooperation is ultimately for the citizens of the member states.

If we talk about freedom of goods or capital, it is only means and tools to improve people's lives, says Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on the way to the meeting.

- We now emphasize that people's path into the labor market must be the same for everyone.

We emphasize gender equality, we say that there should be decent and safe conditions where you work and that there must be social security if you are out of work, says Löfven.

There are, however, divided opinions on how this should be done.

Some want to see clear bills from the EU that set out what should apply.

Others call for a softer path, with common goals and collaborations.

Sweden is pushing hard for the method to be able to be adapted from country to country - not least with regard to the much-discussed battle over the European Commission's proposal for minimum wages.

Postage declaration

The Prime Minister does not want to give any clear information on whether he intends to address Sweden's demands for an exemption regarding the minimum wage at the summit.

At the same time, the minimum wage is not a formal topic at the summit.

Those discussions are now being held instead in the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, with the aim of perhaps reaching a final result in the spring of 2022.

In Porto, a joint declaration awaits instead, in which the Member States welcome the action plan presented by the European Commission and the annual reviews of the state of social issues to be held at future leaders' summits.

The meeting organizers are fully aware of how sensitive the subject is.

- Even reaching a statement is a success in itself, states a high-ranking EU official ahead of the Porto summit.