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Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
Time to Deliver
The Key Priorities of the
Portuguese Presidency
of the Council of the EU
Alexander Conway
Introduction
On 1 January 2021 Portugal assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European
Union, which it will hold for six months until 1 July 2021. The Portuguese Presidency succeeds
the German Presidency as part of the “GPS Trio” (German, Portugal, and Slovenia). This is the
fourth time Portugal has held the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the first time since
2007 when the Portuguese Presidency oversaw the agreement on the Lisbon Treaty.
Portugal takes over the Presidency following likely face considerable organisational and
the momentous European Council agreements logistical hurdles during its tenure. Face-to-
reached under the German Presidency: face meetings are unlikely to be held, absent
agreement on a European Recovery Fund, widespread vaccination coverage, so the initial
the issuance of common European debt period of the Presidency is likely to be conducted
through the European Commission and mostly via videoconferences. Depending on
agreement on a mechanism tying respect for the success and speed of vaccination efforts,
the rule of law to receipt of EU funding. The social distancing requirements may be eased
Portuguese Presidency will now oversee the by the second half of the Presidency.
implementation of the EU’s €750bn recovery
fund and place a particular emphasis on the Presidency Motto
Union’s economic and social recovery.
The motto of the Portuguese Presidency
A resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the is “Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital
EU means the Portuguese Presidency will recovery”, and it underscores the urgency
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
of the economic, political, social and health resilience.1 Germany, Portugal and Slovenia
crises facing Europe and the need for a issued a joint declaration during the German
sustainable and resilient response. As Minister Presidency stating that their central goal
Santos Silva outlined during a webinar at the had shifted to dealing with the pandemic,
IIEA in December 2020, the key verbs for containing the virus and coordinating health
the Portuguese Presidency are to implement efforts across the EU. Two of the immediate
the decisions made, to reform the EU and to priorities for the Trio Presidency - reaching
prepare it for the future. The motto highlights agreement on the Multiannual Financial
the importance of the European social Framework and finalising negotiations with
protection and welfare model as the best tool the UK - have been achieved under the
to facilitate the economic and social recovery German Presidency. The remaining goals
and address the challenges of the digital and build on the EU’s Strategic Agenda 2019-
climate transitions. The logo of the Presidency 2024, 2 including: climate change, the digital
comprises the sun and the helm of a ship, transition, improving European industrial
made up of 27 components, which draw on competitiveness, and promoting European
Portugal’s history of exploration, geographic interests and values globally. These Agenda
position and global openness as a symbol to goals are reflected in the priorities of the
light the way and guide the Member States on Portuguese Presidency, outlined below.
their future journeys together.
Portuguese Political Landscape
GPS Trio Presidency
Following the Carnation Revolution and Portugal’s
peaceful transition to democracy in 1974, it joined the
European Economic Community alongside Spain in
1986.
A presidential election will be held in Portugal on
24 January 2021 and it is expected the incumbent
independent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa likely to retain
the largely ceremonial position. Portugal’s last general
election, held on 6 October 2019, resulted in a solid
victory for the Socialist Party, although short of a
majority in the Assembly of the Republic (with 108 of
230 seats). Prime Minister António Costa’s minority
government is supported through a confidence and
supply arrangement by fellow left-wing parties; the Left
Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and
the Ecologist Party (PEV).
As indicated above, the Trio Presidency has
placed an emphasis on facilitating Europe’s
economic and social recovery from the
COVID-19 crisis and reinforcing its future
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
Portugal’s Presidency Priorities Council will separately assess the general
escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact
Portugal has identified five lines of action to (SGP) in Spring 2021. 5 Implementing the EU
focus on during its Presidency, according to vaccination strategy will run in tandem with
three key priorities. 3 These three priorities these efforts to support and further European
are: promoting Europe’s recovery in the resilience and recovery from the COVID-19
context of the twin digital and climate pandemic.
transitions; implementing the Social Pillar of
the EU to ensure a fair and inclusive transition; Social Europe
and strengthening the EU’s strategic
autonomy through ensuring global openness.4 Strengthening the European social model
Importantly, Portugal views the economic, is central to the Portuguese Presidency
environmental and digital challenges facing the programme and underpins the EU’s green
EU not only as interlinked, but interdependent. and digital ambitions, while the impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic have stressed the
Resilient Europe importance of reinforcing European social
rights and protections to ensure no one is
Portugal will seek to promote the EU’s left behind. This will culminate in an Action
recovery, its cohesion and its values based Plan on implementing the European Pillar
on three pillars; sustainability, innovation and of Social Rights scheduled for discussion on
citizens’ well-being. Member States’ national 7-8 May 2021. It will be part of an informal
recovery plans, which are due to be submitted European Council summit to debate the
by April 2021, will have to reserve a minimum social dimensions and implications of the
percentage of funds for environmental (37%) EU’s economic recovery and transformation.6
and digital (20%) initiatives. Central to the EU’s In addition, Portugal will support efforts to
recovery will be the timely implementation of develop a European Health Union and greater
the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) coordination in EU health policy.
and Next Generation EU recovery fund,
which will be overseen by the Portuguese Green Europe
Presidency to encourage economic growth
and job creation in the context of the rule of Portugal is strongly supportive of the
law mechanism agreed at the December 2020 European Green Deal, with a firm commitment
European Council summit. to achieving carbon-neutrality by 2050
supported by an ambitious Just Transition
Also central to this resilience will be the Fund to facilitate this transformation and
development of an industrial strategy to ease potential social and economic upheavals.
strengthen European SMEs, European The Portuguese Presidency will seek to
supply chains and reduce the EU’s external approve the European Climate Law and the
dependency for critical goods and technologies “Fit for 55” (55% carbon dioxide emissions
and to reinforce the EU’s Civil Protection reduction by 2030 compared to 1990)
Mechanism for rapid crisis response and agenda, tentatively scheduled for June 2021.7
management. Portugal will also prioritise initiatives which
ensure environmental and social aspects are
The European Commission and European
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
duly taken into account by private investment a means to more effectively project the EU as
decisions and efforts to align taxation policy a geopolitical actor. Much of this engagement
with decarbonisation efforts. will be framed in the context of reinforcing
global regulation frameworks, establishing
Digital Europe the EU as a world leader, as well as greater
international cooperation and humanitarian
While Portugal is keen to harness the
assistance for the COVID-19 vaccine. As
benefits of the digital economy and promote
a coastal Atlantic country, Portugal is also
European leadership in the field, it wants to
interested in developing discussions on EU
balance these ambitions against a human-
maritime security 12 particularly in the Atlantic
centred understanding of European values
and the Gulf of Guinea, and is also due to host
and “digital democracy” through a “Charter
a UN Oceans Summit in June 2021, during the
of Digital Rights” which is to be presented in
course of Ireland’s UN Security Council tenure.
June 2021. 8 This complements the strong
focus the Portuguese Government will place Portugal will place a particular emphasis
on investment in e-Government services,9 on building relations with Africa, looking
particularly administrative, fiscal and to host the sixth EU-African Union summit
customer services and on the development of in June 2021 following its postponement
citizens’ digital skills. A European Commission during the German Presidency. It will also
proposal on a pan-EU and commonly accepted dedicate a European Council summit to
electronic identity is expected by early-2021.10 reinforcing strategic relations with India, both
Portugal also plans to focus on the strategic to restart EU-India trade negotiations and to
creation of a European Data Entry Platform counterbalance Chinese influence regionally
based on submarine cables, particularly those and globally.
linking Europe with Africa and South America,
to foster greater European digital autonomy. Two other key future relationships will be with
The Portuguese Presidency will seek to the UK, following the conclusion of the post-
advance negotiations on the landmark Digital Brexit trade and cooperation deal in December
Services Act and Digital Markets Act, based 2020, and the incoming administration of
on proposals from the European Commission, President Biden in the USA, will be high on the
and reach a consensus on regulating the EU’s Portuguese Presidency’s priorities. A European
digital market.11 Council summit addressing EU relations with
Russia will be held in March 2021.
Global Europe
Conclusion
The Portuguese EU Presidency will put a focus
on strengthening multilateralism, building on The Portuguese EU Presidency is likely to be
its tradition of close engagement with South shaped by the recovery efforts in the wake of
America (for example concluding EU-Mercosur the COVID-19 pandemic and the considerable
trade negotiations), Mediterranean countries, economic challenges facing the Union.
sub-Saharan Africa, India and China. In the Portugal’s strong emphasis on a “social”
context of increasing multipolarity, Portugal is Europe will influence much of its priorities and
likely to advocate for deeper EU integration as
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
goals for its Presidency.
As two Atlantic-facing countries on the edge
of Europe, Ireland and Portugal share the
perspective of small like-minded member
states which are committed to promoting
Europe as a global actor. Ireland’s role at the
UN Security Council for the next two years will
enable it to complement the role that Portugal
is playing during its Presidency of the Council
of the EU for the next six months – during a
period of transition post Brexit and post Trump
in which the issue of multilateralism will once
again come to the fore.
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
Key People
Prime Minister, António Costa Minister for Health, Marta Temido
Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, José
Minister of Finance, João Leão
António Vieira da Silva
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva Secretary of State of European Affairs, Ana Paula
Zacarias
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
Important Dates in the Portuguese • 4 May – FAC
Presidency 2021 (TBC if in person/
• Defence policy
videoconference)
• 7-8 May – Informal Heads of State/
• 18 January – Eurogroup
Government European Council Summit
in Porto
• 19 January – ECOFIN
• Social Summit, EU-India Leaders
• 25 January – FAC
• 10 May – FAC
• 26 January – GAC
• 11 May – GAC
• Cohesion policy
• 17 May – Eurogroup
• February - Special European Council
• 18 May – ECOFIN
• Health, European Security and
Defence, Eastern Partnership
• 20 May – FAC
Summit
• Trade policy
• 15 February – Eurogroup
• 25 May – FAC
• 16 February – ECOFIN
• Development policy
• 22 February – FAC
• June – Euro Summit
• 23 February – GAC
• Banking Union and European
• 11 - 12 March – JHA
Deposit Insurance Scheme
• 15 March – Eurogroup
• June – UN Ocean Conference in the
Azores
• 16 March – ECOFIN
• 7-8 June – JHA
• 22 March – FAC
• 17 June – Eurogroup
• 23 March - GAC
• 18 June – ECOFIN
• 25-26 March – Euro Summit &
European Council
• 20-21 June – FAC
• Digital (inc. digital taxation),
• Trade policy
Single Market, Industrial Policy,
Russia • 22 June - GAC
• 19 April – FAC • 24-25 June – European Council
• 20 April – GAC
• Future of Schengen, UK relations
Alexander Conway | January 2021
Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
Endnotes
1 https://www.2021portugal.eu/media/ldohjith/programa-
do-trio-en.pdf
2 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/eu-strategic-agen-
da-2019-2024/
3 https://www.2021portugal.eu/media/e0rjnvdj/
programme-for-the-portuguese-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-
european-union-en.pdf
4 https://www.2021portugal.eu/en/programme/priorities/
5 https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/
news/2021-build-back-to-the-future/
6 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/45880/leaders-
agenda-23020-2021_en.pdf
7 https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/
news/2021-another-decisive-year-for-europes-climate-ambitions/
8 https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/portugal-
eu-presidency-to-present-charter-of-digital-rights/
9 https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/incom-
ing-portuguese-presidency-calls-for-significant-investment-into-e-
government/
10 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/45910/021020-
euco-final-conclusions.pdf
11 https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/portugal-
vies-to-push-ahead-with-new-eu-digital-regulation/
12 https://www.defesa.gov.pt/pt/comunicacao/noticias/
Paginas/A-Defesa-e-a-Presidencia-Portuguesa-Conselho-UE.aspx
Alexander Conway | January 2021Time to Deliver | The Key Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
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