Portugal sets out Presidency’s priorities

Portugal has taken over the Presidency of the European Council for the fourth time from January 2021.

Setting out its priorities for the upcoming six months, the Presidency said that it will be especially 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.

Its key areas of action will be as follows:

• 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

Portugal last held the Presidency in 2007, during which time the Treaty of Lisbon was signed.