For Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) it will be very important to strengthen Europe's resilience and its citizens' confidence in the European social model, promoting a Union based on shared values of solidarity, convergence and cohesion – a Union capable of coordinated action to recover from the crisis.

 

We will accordingly work on three major priorities:

• To promote Europe's recovery, leveraged by the climate and digital transitions
• To implement the Social Pillar of the European Union as a key element for ensuring a fair and inclusive climate and digital transition
• To strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy keeping it open to the world

 

These priorities will be pursued along five lines of action:

Resilient Europe

Promote Europe's recovery, cohesion and values

• Start execution of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the EU Next Generation Instrument (Next Generation EU) and the respective Recovery and Resilience Facility, in order to recover from the crisis and lay the foundations for sustainable growth and job creation.

 

• Defend the EU's fundamental values and defend and consolidate the Rule of Law and democracy, combat all forms of discrimination, promote pluralism in the media and combat disinformation. Combat terrorism and hate speech, including online.

 

• Reduce the EU's external dependency concerning goods and critical technologies, investing in innovation and improving food security.

 

• Defend Europe's autonomy by developing a dynamic industrial strategy, that promotes European value chains and pays attention to strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the sectors worst hit by the crisis.

 

• Diversify European production, the EU's external suppliers and global supply chains, in order to reduce external dependency concerning goods and critical technologies and to improve food security.
• Pay attention to the economic sectors worst hit by the crisis, especially tourism and the creative industries.

 

• Strengthen the EU's crisis management system, to achieve greater resilience and coordination in our response to disasters and to protect critical infrastructures, including efforts to strengthen the Union's Civil Protection Mechanism and to strengthen its capabilities in monitoring and responding to infectious diseases.

 

• To continue the negotiation of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, in order to establish a comprehensive and integrated Europe-wide approach, striking a balance between prevention of irregular immigration, promotion of sustainable channels for legal migration and integration of migrants, geared to safeguarding human rights.

Green Europe

Promoting the EU as a leader in climate action

• Build capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change and promote the competitive advantages of a decarbonised and resilient economic model.

 

• Prioritise the implementation of the European Green Deal, with a view to sustainable economic recovery.

 

• Approve the first European Climate Law and support all efforts to turn Europe into the first carbon neutral continent by 2050; ensure the common commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55%, in relation to 1990, by 2030.

 

• Facilitate the transition to a competitive and carbon neutral economy and promote sustainable growth, the circular economy, as well as innovation and the security of energy supplies.

 

• Promote innovation, digital transformation and sustainable management of the natural resources of the countryside, and give priority to continuing negotiations on reform of the common agricultural policy.

 

• Encourage the preservation and sustainable use of the resources of oceans and seas, and highlight the development of the blue (ocean) economy, the integrated maritime policy and implementation of the common fisheries policy.

Digital Europe

Accelerate digital transformation in the service of citizens and enterprises

• Accelerate the digital transition as a driving force of the economic upturn and promote European leadership in digital innovation and the digital economy.

 

• Encourage new digital solutions and strategies for the green transition, in the fields of health, research and innovation (R&I), industrial property, justice and mobility.

 

• Promote improved access to and sharing of quality data and information, in order to facilitate the lives of citizens, in particular by creating the European digital identity, and also work for technology in the service of people and of a fair and competitive economy, in full respect for the values of a democratic, open and sustainable society.

 

• Pay attention to the universal development of digital skills, enabling workers to adapt to new production processes, without forgetting distance learning within the framework of lifelong.

 

• To give visibility to implementation of best digital practices, with a view to modernising public administration, in particular through the use of artificial intelligence.

 

• Promote a competitive space sector, integrated in the economy, that maximises the use of space data and technologies by enterprises and by public policies.

Social Europe

Promote and strengthen the European social model

• Promote and strengthen the European social model, transmitting confidence to citizens to recover from the crisis and to face the climate and digital transitions, ensuring that no one is left behind.

 

• Give concrete meaning to the European Pillar of Social Rights in the life of citizens and organise the Porto Social Summit, in May, to give political momentum to implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the respective Action Plan.

 

• Promote debate on empowering citizens for the digital challenge, on the future of work and decent work, adequate minimum wages, and on developing the qualifications and skills appropriate for a modern, digital economy.

 

• Pay attention to gender equality and policies for combating discrimination, poverty and social exclusion, including specific protection for more vulnerable groups.

 

• Promote increased cooperation between Member States in the field of Health, supporting the measures needed to increase the response capability of health services to threats to public health.

Global Europe

Promote Europe’s openness to the world

• Commit to effective multilateralism and to the geopolitical positioning of the EU as a global player.

 

• Defend results-oriented international partnerships for development, and promote debate on human development, in particular in the fields of health and education, including gender equality and women's empowerment perspective.

 

• Work for European leadership in consolidating an open, rules-based system of international trade, promoting a strong and fair trade agenda.

 

• Take an active part in preparing the 6th EU-African Union Summit, with a view to consolidating a mutually fruitful partnership.

 

• To give renewed political momentum to relations with neighbours to the south of the Mediterranean.

 

• Monitor the challenges facing partners in Latin America.

 

• Strengthen dialogue with the United States, a strategic partner in all fields, with a view to exploiting the full potential of transatlantic relations.

 

• Step up dialogue and cooperation with India in the political, economic and commercial fields, and also host a Meeting of European Leaders with the Indian Prime Minister, in May, in Porto.

 

• Give priority to a comprehensive, balanced and fair future partnership between the EU and the United Kingdom, respecting the interests of the Union and the Member States.

 

• Promote reflection on maritime security, on the basis of an up-to-date assessment of threats in important maritime areas, such as the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic.