Portugal Presidency of the Council of the EU January - June 2021 DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
The Presidency 3
The Politics 6
The Interviews 11
The Policy 18
The People 35
The Trio 55
DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavillandIntroduction EU Portuguese Presidency Introduction
On 1 January 2021, Portugal took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from Germany, and will preside over the second six months of the trio’s 18-month strategic agenda ahead of the Slovenian Government’s Presidency in July 2021.
Holding the Presidency grants Portugal unique influence, largely through its chairing of the meetings of the Council. They will take the lead in mediating between the Council and Parliament as the European Union looks to implement the Multiannual Financial Framework and the EU Recovery Fund, its European Green Deal, and continue its digital agenda.
This briefing will cover the Trio priorities, the major players within the presidency and the influence they are likely to pursue in their position as Chairs. This briefing will also provide in-depth policy analysis of the Portuguese Presidency’s own priorities.
Key Documents
• Presidency Programme
• The Presidency Calendar
• The Trio Programme
• Strategic Agenda 2019- 2024
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Understand what it means and what the priorities are DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
What is the presidency?
The Council of the EU, alongside the European Parliament, is the main decision making body of the EU. Each member state holds the Presidency of the Council on a six month rotation, and acts in trios of countries, each with a shared programme.
The EU country which holds the Presidency is entrusted with progressing EU legislation and ensuring that the requirements for legislative procedures are met, as well as chairing meetings of the Council of the EU.
The Council meets in ten different meetings, known as ‘configurations’, each dealing with different policy issues. Under the Portuguese Presidency, the Environment Council meetings, for example, will be attended by environment ministers from each of the member states, and will be chaired by Portugal’s Environment Minister. The exception is the Foreign Affairs Council which has a permanent chairperson, usually the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. As chairs, Portugal’s national ministers will act as mediators, and will therefore be able to influence and foster compromises between member states.
The Presidency arbitrates between member states and aims to reach agreements on legislative texts via ‘trilogues’, informal negotiation meetings and Conciliation Committee meetings. When agreement is reached, the Presidency represents the Council at ‘trilogue’ meetings with the Parliament and Commission. These informal agreements, which can often represent a breakthrough for a legislative proposal, are attributed to the negotiating skills of the Presidency, and as such can often be used to measure a country’s success in the role.
The country holding the Presidency must act in a politically neutral way, and cannot be perceived to be pushing their own agenda. The Trio of countries who hold the Presidency over the 18-month period must agree to and follow overarching aims, which should be completed by the time the third and final country ends its rotation.
During its Presidency, Portugal will be dealing with many key policy issues, agreements and shifting priorities in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Trio strategic agenda • Protecting citizens and freedoms • Developing our economic base • Building a climate neutral, green, fair and social Europe
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What are the priorities?
Whilst the main priorities of the Trio have remained the same, following a meeting which took place during the second half of the German Presidency, the three countries in the trio stated that “dealing with the pandemic and its social and economic consequences” has become their central goal.
In order to achieve this, two of the main goals of the trio are to effectively manage healthcare systems and pass the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). With the MFF being agreed in December, the focus of Portugal will shift to ensuring that the EU undergoes a strong economic and social recovery.
Portugal has stated that its main mission includes “reinforcing Europe’s resilience and confidence in the European social model, promoting a European Union that is innovative and looks to the future, based on common values of solidarity, convergence and cohesion.”
To help Portugal achieve its mission goals it has outlined five priorities that it believes will help tackle the overall goals of the trio. The five priorities of the Portuguese Presidency are: Resilient Europe, Social Europe, Green Europe, Digital Europe and Global Europe.
The social agenda is set to be the main priority out of these five. This is exemplified by the Social summit which will be held in Porto on 7-8 May. On top of this, whilst the other priorities are still key, the EU is expected to make huge foriegn policy moves under the Global Europe priority. The bloc is set for major summits with Africa and the US and is also looking to build on its virtual summit with China that took place in September. It is also worth noting that the Presidency will also focus on relations with India, a key strategic ally of Portugal. Currently, 3 Portuguese Government Ministers have familial links with Indian.
One issue that Portugal will have to tackle is migration. In September, the EU announced its proposal for an updated Migration Pact. However, currently member states have a wide difference of opinion on migration. This means that the EU has struggled to make any progress and there is currently no legal mechanism that will come into play if the pact is passed as it currently sits.
Reform on migration has also been pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has recently criticised the freedom of movement provided by the Schengen agreement, following multiple terrorist attacks that took place in Europe.
The priorities: • Resilient Europe • Green Europe • Digital Europe • Social Europe • Global Europe
4 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk The Politics
Placing the EU’s challenges in the Portuguese political context DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
National politics
From January 2021, Portugal will hold the Presidency for its fourth time and its first since 2007. Taking over during a global pandemic will make it challenging, but since 2007 the country has lived through a global financial crisis, a eurozone debt crisis, received a €78bn bailout from the IMF in 2011, and implemented unpopular austerity policies in the proceeding years.
Despite these events, Portuguese politics has been relatively stable over the past five years compared to many of its European neighbours. The Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa, is currently in office after securing 36% of the vote in the 2019 election. The party has been in power since 2015 as a minority government, after it was appointed following the fall of the PSD Government just a month after its election victory.
The national Presidency is held by centre-right Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, previously of the Social Democratic Party, who assumed office in 2016 as an independent, and is supported by a centre-right coalition of the Social Democratic Party, CDS - People’s Party and the People’s Monarchist Party.
While the country is currently governed by a centre-right President and left-wing Government, the relationship has been viewed as one of the smoothest in recent times. There have been notable disagreements (the Tancos scandal and the appointment of Caixa Geral de Depósitos), but overall, the relationship has been one of stability.
The Portuguese Council Presidency will be an interesting one because of its timing, with the 2021 Presidential elections taking place during its first month in January. Perhaps this event would seem more significant had the relationship between Mr de Sousa and Costa’s Government not been so cordial. With Mr Costa unwilling to back a candidate from his own party and polling suggesting another landslide victory for Mr de Sousa, it is unlikely to change the flow and mechanisms of Government.
Portugal is largely no different to Germany in the main challenges it has faced over the past year. COVID-19 and the economic fallout from it have been the overwhelming themes dominating the last twelve months and are sure to continue into the Portuguese Presidency.
Like many countries, Portugal announced its first COVID-19 restrictions in March, with its state of emergency lasting until 3 May, when it was replaced by a “state of calamity”. It is regarded as having been a quick actor on the issue, with its state of emergency coming just two days after its first confirmed death.
Following the lifting of certain restrictions in May, the country was also an early adopter of making face masks compulsory on public transport and in enclosed public spaces. Its “state of calamity” was lifted in June following wide decreases in infections, although rising infections in Lisbon saw new restrictions re-imposed in nineteen of its parishes. The wider “state of calamity” was reinstated in October, with the country also mirroring a wider European trend of imposing tougher restrictions in November and December in the build up to Christmas.
In terms of cases and deaths, Portugal has fared much better than many of its European neighbours, an
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impressive feat given it has the fewest critical care beds in the EU and the third-highest percentage of people over 65 after Japan and Italy. Overall, Portugal has suffered 7,196 deaths as a result of COVID, 54.09 per 100,000. As of 14 December 2020, its death rate placed Portugal sixteenth in relation to other countries in the EEA, in comparison to the worst hit rates of rates of 156.7 and 106.89 per 100,000 for Belgium and Italy respectively.
The country’s testing capacity has been viewed as a success story, with early analysis citing this as the reason why it fared better than Spain. The only two countries, with more than two million people, with a higher testing rate than Portugal as of May were Denmark and Lithuania. Portugal has also led the way in regard to protecting vulnerable groups, by granting citizenship rights at the end of March to all migrants and asylum seekers who had residency applications underway.
Economically, the effects of the pandemic on Portugal have not been viewed as quite such a success. The economic effects of the pandemic have been seen to have hit Portugal harder than most, with its economy heavily reliant on tourism and a high percentage of its businesses being SMEs. Its 10-year bond yield fell below zero for the first time in November; its output is expected to shrink by 8.8% in 2020; and its debt as a percentage of GDP will rise to around 136% (only Greece and Italy are higher). While Portugal is set to receive grants worth more than 4% of GDP over the next two years from the European Next Generation EU and funds from the EU Recovery Fund, its economic recovery is set to be one of the dominating narratives in the coming year.
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The European context
The Portuguese Presidency is in the middle of a trio, leading in from a German Presidency that has had to tackle a pandemic, countless foreign policy issues and a budget that had been in the negotiation stage for nearly six months.
Since the pandemic began, the EU’s actions to protect citizens and prevent the spread of coronavirus have been completed at a national level, while the European Commission has worked with member states to create common travel guidance, interoperable national contact tracing applications, and a vaccine strategy that has led to six coronavirus vaccine contracts being signed with vaccine developers. These vaccine contracts have been said to not only have secured enough doses for Europeans, but for the EU to donate doses to lower and middle income countries.
However, the rollout of the vaccine in the past week has been met with criticism from some, including Germany’s Christian Social Union leader Markus Söder and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Criticism has been levelled at the European Commission for its slow adoption and uneven rollout of the vaccine as it attempts to vaccinate the bloc’s 450m citizens. This challenge will continue into the Portuguese Presidency.
Looking further back, Ms von der Leyen outlined during her State of the Union address in September the Commission’s desire to strengthen the European Health Union. She further confirmed this at the World Health Organisation Summit in October, saying: “We cannot wait for the end of the pandemic to repair and prepare for the future. We will build the foundations of a stronger European Health Union in which 27 countries work together to detect, prepare and respond collectively”.
On top of tackling coronavirus, in early December the European Council came to an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the NextGenerationEU Recovery Fund, after Hungary and Poland initially vetoed the funding due to rule of law conditionality.
Following the agreement, European Council President Charles Michel said that the landmark recovery package would “drive forward our green & digital transitions”. In order for the budget and the recovery fund to be passed, Germany brokered a deal which means that leaders would ask the European Commission to resist implementing the rule of law mechanism whilst a member state challenged its use in the European Court of Justice.
Whilst the budget is only one part of what the EU has achieved over the last six months, it provides a huge insight into current divisions. The initial cost of the budget was, perhaps unsurprisingly, challenged by the ‘Frugal Four’ of Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands and Sweden. However when it came to passing the agreement, it was two and a half of the ‘Visegrad Four’, Hungary and Poland with the support of Slovenia, who exercised their veto rights.
By coming to an agreement over the application of the rule of law mechanism, the EU has been able to pass funding that member states desperately needed going into 2021. However, it can be argued that it hasn’t solved the problem of the growing separation of values between the EU and some member states.
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The separation of values is clear when examining the recent actions of the Polish Government, who has been seeking to use a controversial court ruling to create new legislation that would put further limitations on its abortion regulations. Further, the Hungarian Parliament passed constitutional amendments in December that limited same-sex adoption and enshired traditonal gender roles.
In contrast, just over one year ago, Commission President Urusla von der Leyen published her agenda for Europe which included “A Union of Equality” which focused on women’s rights and equality.
On top of tackling a tricky budget, the EU has also been active on its environmental policy, with leaders agreeing to cut greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030; an increase from the previous target of 40% from the 1990 CO2 levels. The commitment to reducing the levels of CO2 being produced in the EU is set to be tackled by policies announced recently, such as the Renovation Wave and the EU’s strategies on offshore renewable energy; methane; and chemicals.
Finally, the issue of Brexit has been brought to a symbolic close following the last minute deal agreed by both sides in late December. Although, with businesses on both sides of the channel still adapting to new rules, there looks set to be practical challenges ahead.
The EU’s wider foreign policy agenda looks set to be influenced by the US election, which saw Democratic nominee, President-elect Joe Biden, claim victory. The EU has already invited the US to two summits in the first half of 2021, where they will discuss “strategic” issues such as COVID-19, climate change, peace and security. Many are foreseeing that the relationship between the two could be reset following the acrimonious relationship with President Trump.
9 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk The Interviews
Read our interviews on the Portuguese Presidency DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Interviews with MEPs
On the following pages, two MEPs will introduce the Portuguese Presidency. The interviews will include opinions of how Portugual should order their priorities, what the significant challenges will be and where the individuals would most like to see progress.
Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP EPP / Partido Social Democrata
Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP was born on 9 April 1955. Before entering politics, Ms Carvalho’s background lay in academia, where she was a Full Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (Faculty of Engineer of the University of Lisbon).
She holds over 30 years of experience in research in the areas of energy, climate change and science, technology and innovation policy. She has published over 100 articles in international scientific journals and more than 200 articles in conference proceedings as well as writing 3 and editing 15 books.
Ms Carvalho was first elected to the European Parliament in 2009 and served until 2014. During this time, she sat as a full member of the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee and as a substitute member of the Committee on Budgets.
She was elected again in the 2019 European Parliament elections. She currently sits on the ITRE Committee and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age. She has also worked as a Senior Advisor to the European Commissioner on Research, Science and Innovation and as Principal Adviser to the President of the European Commission.
Domestically, Ms Carvalho has served as Minister of Science and Higher Education of the XV Constitutional Government of Portugal, and Minister of Science, Innovation and Higher Education of the XVI Constitutional Government.
What are your thoughts on the themes highlighted in the priorities?
The priorities of the Portuguese presidency are very much in line with the priorities of the European Commission, Parliament and the Presidency Trio. Whilst there is continuity, there are some anomalies, like the social dimension which has a higher priority than in previous presidencies. There is also a greater focus on the global front, such as the EU’s relations with Africa and India. India is an important country and is growing. Perhaps the focus on India is also a personal factor for Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who has Indian origins. I fully agree that India should be a focus of Europe as it is such an important country.
How would you order the Presidency’s priorities?
The greatest priority in light of the pandemic is a Resilient Europe. This is very important, especially when we look at the recovery of the European economy.
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The Portuguese Secretary of State for the Economy has also shared this view with me.
However, the EU does not want to be protectionist, it wants to be an open economy. This means that the EU needs to invest in knowledge, research and innovation, structures, industries and supply chains, so it is prepared to face crises in the future. In the beginning of the pandemic, Europe struggled as there were issues with supply chains. The EU should not be protectionist, but rational about ensuring there are no issues with supply chains.
The best way to prepare for a crisis is to invest in technology, such as a vaccine. The EU has contributed to the BioNTech-Pfizer, CureVac and Moderna research through Horizon2020. All of these vaccines can be seen as having links to Europe. In order to be resilient and to react well to crisis, we also need to be strong in knowledge.
The second priorities would be a Social Europe due to the coronavirus crisis and the need for a strong recovery. In regard to a Green and Digital Europe, I have tried not to separate them as they should go hand in hand. Finally, a Global Europe would be the last focus of the priorities.
How do you think the past year has changed the Portuguese Presidency’s priorities? Is there anything that may be left behind as a result of the pandemic?
The big challenges of the Presidency are conditional to the situation and the biggest task is the coordination of the logistics of vaccine distribution. There has been fantastic work so far centrally from the Commission and the German Presidency.
The joint procurement of vaccines will allow the EU to distribute doses at the same time, which is a great achievement. Member states need to move at the same pace and no state can be left behind. This is a huge task as there are lots of logistical issues and states will need to move at the same pace.
The second task that is important is the coordination of the recovery plan. It needs to be coordinated at the European level. Whilst there is more flexibility for the richer member states, there needs to be coordination of the different strategies as there is an added value of the projects. These projects need to be linked to the single market as we can’t have 27 hydrogen strategies, for example. Member states also need to use the whole EU market and use the infrastructure that the EU can provide.
The Digital, Green, and Global priorities will be there, and there will be no major change here. The Digital agenda was fast-tracked by the crisis and the crisis showed the importance of digitalisation. Many people have been able to acquire digital and technological skills that they never had before the crisis.
The Green Deal has not suffered due to the crisis, with politicians still focusing on the issue, which is a long- term one. The economic recovery could also lead to an increase in emissions if we do not apply the principles that are stated in the Green deal.
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In relation to the Green deal, what are the most important files to coordinate?
There are two parts to the Green Deal. One is all of the projects and the funding that is coming from the EU budget and the recovery plan. The executions of these projects is important at a European level.
The second is the legislative agenda as we will have many files that will need to be revised due to the new climate law agreement. The clean energy package that was agreed recently will need to be revised. This includes the energy efficiency directive and the renewable energy directive. I don’t think there is time to finish them during the Portuguese Presidency, but work will start in the next six months.
What will be the main files coming from the ITRE Committee and what will be the biggest challenges?
We are just finalising Horizon Europe and we will finalise the EIT at the start of next year. I don’t see any difficulty, but a task for the Portuguese Presidency is to finalise these files.
The second part is the Research & Innovation funding which will go to Public-Private partnerships and Public- Public partnerships. A substantial part of HorizonEurope funding will be in research and innovation in these partnerships.
Aside from COVID-19 and the recovery fund, what will be the biggest challenges?
Outside of COVID-19, the vaccine and the recovery plan, the most immediate priorities are the sectorial files that relate to the MFF, the legislative initiatives that the Commission is set to launch, global links, and Brexit.
I think that the Presidency will focus on the health sector, not just in relation to COVID-19, but a stronger health union at the European level. The Commission has announced a new agency for more health research and this will be good for both the EU and countries like Portugal.
Research, data gathering, common solutions for crisis and diseases all will be better tackled together than as individual member states. By working together we can advance faster, and this has been highlighted by our cooperation during the pandemic.
Which policy areas and files do you think will get stuck in Parliament?
I’m not sure there will be many files that will be stuck as we have been able to agree on the budget and recovery plan. We are in a time of implementation, so the Portuguese presidency is taking on issues that are near the end of the tunnel. I can’t see there being any issues similar to the negotiation of the budget.
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Pedro Marques MEP S&D / Partido Socialista
Pedro Marques was born in Lisbon in 1976.
He graduated in Economics in 1997 and obtained his Masters in International Economy in 2001.
During his political career, Mr Marques has served as advisor to both the Minister of Labour and Social Security and the Secretary of State of Social Security from 2001-2002, and as Councilor of Montijo City Hall from 2002-2005.
Further, he served as Secretary of State of Social Security between 2005-2011, and as Minister of Planning and Infrastructure in Antonio Costa’s Government from 2015-2019.
In 2019, he was elected as an MEP in the European Parliament. He is currently Vice-President of his grouping, S&D, and its Coordinator for the Subcommittee on Tax Matters. Further, he is members of both the Committee on Regional Development and Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
What are your thoughts on the initial release of the Portuguese Presidency priorities? What would you change? How would you order the five themes?
The Portuguese government developed an ambitious programme for its Presidency of the Council. It follows- up on the good work of Germany, particularly on the recovery package, but also seeks to shine a light on new dimensions, including the European Pillar of Social Rights and Europe’s strategic autonomy. These three key priorities are part of a broader programme, split by 5 different dimensions: resilient, social, green, digital and global.
Given the current outlook, namely the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is paramount to grant equal consideration to said 3 key aspects.
A. The implementation of the recovery package, which includes the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Next Generation EU (NGEU), will be paramount not only to provide support to our economy and to the people, but also to set the stage for the green and digital transitions.
B. The European Pillar of Social Rights will be the backbone of a fair recovery that leaves no one behind. The social dimension must not lag behind the momentum of the green and digital transitions – our citizens will be more supportive of our political priorities if we are ready to assist them as well.
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C. Improving the strategic autonomy of an EU open to the world. The initial shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2020, showed how important it is to safeguard our supply chains and to guarantee that Europe is not caught off guard in emergencies. Yet, it also showed that cooperation and solidarity are paramount to face hardships – hence the commitment to our global partners.
What do you think the most significant challenges will be during the Portuguese Presidency?
Portugal will take on the EU Presidency after a major breakthrough in European history, as represented by Next Generation EU. This political agreement is a concrete expression of true European solidarity and cooperation.
Nevertheless, we must consider that this is not a mere document on which the 27 Member States managed to find consensual wording. Now it is the time to translate this agreement into action and to make sure that the recovery package reaches European citizens and the real economy. Hopefully, Portugal will be leading the implementation and rollout phase.
Furthermore, with the approval and deployment of the first vaccines, we can begin our path towards normality. Our citizens have made significant efforts to respect the restrictions and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Presidency can be decisive to ramp up the coordination efforts and to support a swift implementation of the national vaccination plans. It is up for the political and administrative level to guarantee that the vaccines reach our population and that we can gradually return to our everyday lives.
In terms of your own political interests and parliamentary activities, where would you like to see progress made during the Portuguese Presidency?
While we are facing a great challenge, this is also an opportunity to make positive changes. We know that Planet Earth is facing a climate crisis: that is one of the reasons why the European Union is committed to the Paris Agreement and to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We must future-proof our economy by making it more sustainable.
The funding stemming from the recovery package is crucial, but it must be complemented by clear targets and a paradigm shift. For instance, our tax systems must be adapted and reflect the negative impact of some activities. The polluters must pay their fair share and I expect the Portuguese Presidency to kickstart the discussion on green taxation, namely the carbon border adjustment mechanism.
If Europe is taking a leap on sustainability, we have to ensure our industry remains competitive and that there is a corrective mechanism for imported products. This tool is designed to prevent a spike in imports of carbon- heavy products. The right incentives must be set in order to mobilise people and companies to this transition.
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To what extent do you think that COVID-19 and Brexit will affect the work and focus of the Portuguese Presidency?
Fortunately, the United Kingdom and the European Union were able to reach an agreement before the end of 2020. This provided more certainty to all citizens and relieved some of the pressure from the Presidency. As you know, Portugal and the United Kingdom have the oldest alliance in diplomatic history and, despite certainly being sad to see the UK leave, our country both respects the decision and is committed to ensure that the future relationship is mutually beneficial.
Regarding COVID-19, it will naturally shape this Presidency as it did for the previous two. This challenge is not diminished simply because it has been around for some time. We cannot ignore that there is an ongoing pandemic and that many European countries are still being forced to increase their restrictions. Vaccination plans will have to be coordinated and countries have to make sure that they make steady progress towards a way out..
Nevertheless, from my point of view, the three priorities of the Portuguese Presidency were already crafted when considering the urgency of answering to this crisis.
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Foreign Affairs DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
GAC General Affairs
The United Kingdom departed formally from the transition period on the final day of the German Presidency - which will have likely come to the great relief of the incoming Portuguese Presidency. However, with the EU-UK Free Trade Agreement yet to be formally ratified by the European Parliament, and the Commission yet to finalise its financial services and data adequacy decisions, managing the consequences of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union will remain a priority for the General Affairs Council (GAC) under the Portuguese Presidency.
Meanwhile, following the bitter (now resolved) dispute in the Council, the Portuguese Presidency has committed to pay close attention to the new mechanisms to strengthen the rule of law across the Union. It will organise a high-level conference on the rule of law in May. With each Member State due significant funding to support union projects and the economic recovery from COVID-19 via the 2021-2027 EU budget and the Next Generation EU fund, the Portuguese Presidency will want assurances that the money will not be diverted elsewhere.
Indeed in terms of the MFF, the Portuguese Presidency will place great emphasis on Cohesion Policy and its related funding programmes, stating that it is the only tool with the ‘scope, capacity and proximity’ to respond to the climate, digital, and demographic transition faced by Europe. In May, alongside the Commission, it will host the ninth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy in Porto.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Coordinating the European response to COVID-19. • Organising a high-level conference on the rule of law in Coimbra in May. • Pursuing the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. • Following up on the EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025. • Hosting the ninth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy in Porto in May. • Promoting the technical finalisation of REACT-EU, Partnership Agreement and Cohesion Policy 2021 - 2027.
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JHA Justice and Home Affairs
Five years on from a crisis that highlighted Europe’s fragmented approach to migration from outside the European Union, the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council under the Portuguese Presidency will work to prioritise the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and its initiatives. Most notably, it will aim to develop a common migration management mechanism. Meanwhile, in the context of strengthening the Union’s external borders, the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) will launch its new standing corps in Lisbon in January.
On police and judicial cooperation, the Portuguese Presidency has stated it will seek to develop greater capacity to counter online crime. While not a new form of criminality, Europol has warned that the number of incidents have reached unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it intends to promote the use of new technologies in the area of justice by expanding the interoperability of European legal and judicial systems. It will organise a high-level conference on e-Justice in Lisbon in April.
It will prioritise the development of a new internal security strategy to protect citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees. Through the JHA, the Presidency will attach great importance to combating terrorism and organised crime by creating incentives and conditions for the coordinated involvement of cross-border actors. A high-level conference on law enforcement cooperation will be organised between EU, Middle East and North African countries.
The Presidency has committed to establishing a comprehensive EU disaster management system, which will prioritise strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and develop strategic reserves of essential supplies.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Establishing a common migration management mechanism. • Implementing the Valletta Declaration and Action Plan. • Strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. • Establishing strategic reserves of essential supplies. • Implementing the 2020-2025 EU Strategy on victims’ rights. • Organising a high-level conference on law enforcement cooperation • Organising a high-level conference on e-Justice
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ECOFIN Economic and Finanical Affairs
After the long-awaited confirmation of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) in December, the Portuguese Presidency will now prioritize its implementation, alongside Next Generation EU, an unprecedented €750 billion temporary recovery instrument.
Under the leadership of the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council will review and approve national recovery and resilience plans, with Lisbon organising a high-level conference on recovery in June.
The Presidency and ECOFIN Council have committed to deepening the economic and monetary union (EMU). In regard to furthering the banking union, there will be a renewed effort to develop a European deposit guarantee scheme and establish a capital markets union in order to encourage the flow of investments and savings across the EU, to benefit businesses and consumers. To finalise the Union’s post-crisis reform of the financial services sector, the Presidency will seek to implement the new Basel Committee standards.
On taxation, the Portuguese Presidency states it will seek to address the challenges of digital economy through the ‘fair and equitable distribution of taxation in a context of healthy competition’. It has committed to finding a political agreement on the revision of the rules on disclosure of information concerning tax on revenues. Meanwhile, it will also prioritize the implementation of the EU action plan on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Portugese Presidency has committed to:
• Implementation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Next Generation EU instrument. • Organising a high-level conference on recovery to be held in Lisbon in June. • Deepening the economic and monetary union (EMU). • Promoting the establishment of a European deposit guarantee scheme, and the capital markets union. • Developing the EU Single Window Environment for Customs. • Implementing the new Basel Committee standards. • Reaching a political agreement on the revision of the rules on disclosure of information concerning tax on revenues. • Implementing the EU action plan on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
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COMPET Competitiveness
Following an unprecedented year of state aid approvals as a result of COVID-19, the Competitive Council will host discussions in the first half of 2021 which will be vital to the single market’s recovery from the pandemic, with a particular focus on helping SMEs.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to a series of measures on improving the single market by removing “unjustified barriers”, whilst also stating that the Single Market Forum (SIMFO) will be heldin Lisbon in June. Furthermore, the Portuguese Presidency has confirmed that it will pay particular attention to the Digital Services Act.
On industrial strategy, the Presidency stated its intention to prioritise the Commission’s March 2020 strategy, in part through hosting the EU Industry Days in Brussels in February. The Presidency decided that the recovery of European value chains should be broken into three strands; industry, competition, and trade. The new Presidency also said that it will give visibility to the benefits of protecting industrial property rights, and promote the industrial property system.
In terms of consumers, the Portuguese Presidency committed to the implementation of the New Consumer Agenda as well as hosting both the European Consumer Summit in Lisbon in March, and another high-level meeting in March. The Presidency will also follow up on the consumer credit initiative.
The Competitive Council will also be vital in discussions surrounding the recovery of the EU’s tourism sector, and particularly those SMEs which were impacted by the pandemic. A high-level forum on sustainability and tourism will be held in Porto in May, and the results of the European Tourism Convention in October 2020 will also be published. In the context of wider aims to establish a European innovation network, the Portuguese Presidency will launch a debate on big data and the free movement of such data as a source of tourism statistics, to improve the supply of data available to businesses.
Under the heading of the Competitive Council, the Presidency stated that it will coordinate the follow-up to the Communication on Better Regulation.
On research & innovation, the Portuguese Presidency supported the target of reaching 3% of GDP in research investment by 2030 (2/3 private sector, 1/3 public sector) which is achievable by linking the national recovery and resilience plans, and the European funds under centralised and decentralised management. The Presidency was supportive of the European Research Area (ERA), and will host a debate on the 20th anniversary of the programme, as well as supporting joint initiatives like those on hydrogen, AI and supercomputing. The Presidency further committed to including research careers and their inclusion in the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework.
Finally, the Presidency supported the launch of the EU Space Programme worth €14.8bn which secured interinstitutional agreement in December 2020. The Presidency emphasised the integration of SMEs into new space-related services, as well as cooperation between the EU and Africa in the area of space.
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The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• 8th Environmental Action Programme • Agreement on the European Climate Law • Climate-neutrality by 2050 & reduce GHGs by 2030 • Introduction of a moderate minimum carbon price • Finalise negotiations on the post-2020 CAP framework • Animal welfare & food labelling • EU Energy Diplomacy Action Plan
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TTE Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
There were some long awaited announcements from the Portuguese Presidency with regard to the TTE Council. Most notably, we saw a clear emphasis of the Presidency to drive forward the development of hydrogen technologies, as well as an explicit mention of passenger protection as the revision of Regulation EU261 on Air Passenger Rights remains locked in the Council.
On transport, the Presidency highlighted its focus launching the European Year of Rail in March 2021, as well as promoting intra-modality with sea transport through commercial ports. The Portuguese Presidency also emphasised the importance of completing the core TEN-T network by 2030, adding that it will host TEN-T Days 2021 in June in Lisbon. On air transport, the Presidency announced that it will follow up on Commission legislative proposals on the Single European Sky and passenger protection amongst others.
On telecommunications, the Council Presidency stated its aim to highlight infrastructure problems with telecommunications such as those surrounding 5G networks and the revision of the NIS Directive, the establishment of the new Joint Cyber Unit and the revision of the Critical Infrastructures Directive and the Action Plan for European Diplomacy. The Presidency also emphasised the need for a European data entry platform, adding that in June the Presidency would inaugurate the EllaLink cable in Sines, which will link Europe, Africa and South America.
With regard to energy, the Portuguese Presidency stated that it would pay particular attention to the Revision of the Trans-European Energy Networks Regulation which was adopted by the Commission last month. The Presidency added the importance of developing energy systems and smart grids, adding that the roles of alternative fuels and green taxation will also be addressed.
The Presidency considered green hydrogen as a key factor in the energy transition and committed to hosting a conference on green hydrogen in the energy transition in Lisbon in April. The Portuguese Presidency added that energy efficiency would be promoted in the context of the Renovationave. W
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TTE
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Launching the 2021 European Year of Rail in March 2021 in Lisbon. • Hosting a conference on green hydrogen in the energy transition in Lisbon in April 2021. • Hosting TEN-T Days 2021 in June 2021 in Lisbon. • Following up on Single European Sky and passenger protection legislation. • Highlighting problems with 5G networks, the NIS Directive Revision, Critical Infrastructures Directives, and the Action Plan for European Diplomacy. • Emphasising the need for a European data entry platform as well as inaugurating the EllaLink cable in Sines. • Particular focus on progressing the Revision of the Trans-European Energy Networks Regulation.
ENVI Environemnt
A European green recovery and a fair green transition are among the core priorities for the Portuguese Presidency, which wants to render the EU a global leader in climate action by securing a joint commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. It is worth mentioning that the European Parliament still advocates for a 60% reduction in emissions.
With a view to making Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050, the Presidency will ensure that climate policy and the goal of carbon neutrality are fully integrated into the various sectoral policies by promoting the competitive advantages of a decarbonised and resilient economy. Key issues will be energy efficiency, the circular economy, sustainable mobility, and the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity. To that end, the Presidency will hold a conference on climate change in March.
On the circular economy, the Presidency will promote the sharing of national action plans and their results. In the field of batteries and raw materials, achieving sustainability in a circular economy will also play a big part, as it will look into: secondary raw material markets, waste management for existing goods and equipment, reduction of raw materials (and greater innovation in product design), and prevention in terms of minimal use of raw materials (including ecodesign), reusability, repairability and remanufacturing. In addition, the Presidency will also focus on reviewing the legislative framework for batteries.
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ENVI Environment
Biodiversity protection and nature restoration will also remain a focus during the next six months, putting the fight against desertification and sustainable water and forest management at the forefront. The EU is keen to engage in the debate on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in the context of the COP15, which will take place in H2. Combating the trafficking of protected species, conservation of marine biodiversity and the use of artificial soil in Europe will also be important topics for the Presidency.
The new EU Forest Strategy is expected to be published in Q2 2021, encouraging sustainable management, bioenergy, the green economy, and stressing the importance of forests in the context of climate change. Most importantly, the Presidency will support the establishment of a financial framework for forests and define a European programme to combat and mitigate biotic and abiotic agents to protect forests from threats such as rural fires and pests. The continuation of negotiations to reach a legally binding Agreement on Forests in Europe will also take place.
On the issue of water, the Presidency will advance an integrated and cross-sectoral approach to cross-border water management, promoting sustainable water use and improving flood risk management. It will do this whilst having in mind the impact of extreme events on ecosystems and natural habitats.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Concluding negotiations on the EU climate law. • A conference on climate change in March. • Implementing the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Biodiversity and Chemical strategies and the 8th Environmental Action Programme. • Focusing on repairability of products, sustainable materials and ecodesign. • Supporting the new Forest Strategy with a financial framework for forests. • Leading discussions on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. • Advancing sustainable use of water resources. • Promoting green taxation and sustainable investments. • Finding a consensus on the legislative proposal amending the Aarhus Convention before the next Conference of the Parties in 2021.
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AGRIFISH Agriculture and Fisheries
Following intensive negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy provisions post-2020 as well as on the transitional provisions on the last quarter of last year, the Portuguese Presidency is expected to conclude the negotiations and ultimately reach a political agreement.
As the preservation of the agricultural sector is vital for reducing the likelihood of natural disasters resulting from climate change and forest fires, the Presidency is expected to focus on the European Commission’s Communication on a long-term vision for rural areas, due to be presented on Q2 2021. Based on actions from the Green Deal policy, sustainable agricultural practices such as organic farming and sustainable management of resources, including soil and water, will be prioritised. More than that, the Presidency will give priority to innovation, knowledge transfer and the digitalisation of the agri-food sector.
Given the importance of ensuring the agricultural sector’s resilience during crises, particular attention will be paid to increasing food security and to the sustainability of supply chains. Sectoral measures for the recovery and structural reinforcement of the European agri-food system will be among the upcoming actions. In the first six months of 2021, the EU institutions will start implementing the Farm to Fork policies, in the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare, following scrutiny and a report from the Parliament.
On plant health, the Presidency will seek to strengthen the plant protection measures that are substitutes for complements to chemical control, including the marketing and use of biological control agents. The blue economy will be highly prioritised by Portugal, as the Presidency intends to promote the importance of the preservation and sustainable use of ocean and sea resources, along with greater involvement of civil society. Issues such as renewable energies, blue biotechnology, sustainable aquaculture, green shipping and maritime surveillance technologies will underpin the key actions, resulting in a ministerial conference on integrated maritime policy in Lisbon in June and a high-level conference on sustainable oceans to be held in the Azores in June.
Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the subsequent agreement on fisheries, the EU is keen on continuing the implementation of the common fisheries policy, ensuring sustainable management of fisheries resources. It will do it by participating on several international instruments and fora, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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The Portuguese Presidency committed to:
• A political agreement with the Parliament on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy provisions. • Focusing on sustainable production practices and organic farming. • Implementing the Farm to Fork objectives. • Improving the prospects and future of rural areas. • Strengthening plant protection measures. • Promoting the blue economy and sustainable use of sea / ocean resources. • Implementing the common fisheries policy. • A ministerial conference on integrated maritime policy in June. • A high-level conference on sustainable oceans in June.
EPSCO Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
The Portuguese Presidency will focus on a fair and strong social Europe and thus it will promote enhanced cooperation between Member States in the area of health by increasing the capacity of health services to respond to public health threats. The agenda will be based on three pillars; strategic autonomy, sustainability, and accessibility, including fair, cost-effective and adequate access to health technologies.
In that context, it will support the creation of a European Health Union, while strengthening the mandate of EU agencies along with efforts to produce and distribute safe COVID-19 vaccines throughout Europe and the rest of the world. On medicine issues, the Presidency stated it will lay emphasis on the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe and it will also hold a conference on access to medicines in Lisbon in April. A few months after the publication of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a European Cancer Research Summit will take place in Porto in May.
The digital transformation of the health sector will be a priority, focusing on telehealth and telemedicine, and the interoperability of electronic health records. The Presidency will organise a high-level conference on digital health (Portugal eHealth Summit) to be held in June in Lisbon. The Presidency will give particular attention to cooperation in the area of the EU-Africa agenda, holding an international conference in this area in Lisbon in March. Actions will also be directed towards protection of mental health.
On employment issues, attention will be paid to the universal development of digital skills, to help employers and employees adapt to teleworking, the digital transformation of businesses and digital platforms and e-commerce. The Presidency stresses that there must be regulation of new forms of work, decent working conditions, safe workplaces and fair wages, and working hours suitable for reconciling work and family life, as well as social protection.
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Adequate minimum wages, collective bargaining and the new European Strategy on Safety and Health at Work, will be prioritised.
Concerning implementation of the social policy, the Porto Social Summit set to take place in May will shift interest towards the European Pillar of Social Rights and its action plan. The Social Summit will be a pivotal milestone for the Portuguese Presidency, incorporating a high-level conference, with wide participation, and a leaders’ meeting. The summit will pay attention to the areas of employment, qualifications and social protection.
Moreover, the new Council Presidency committed to fight against poverty, homelessness, social exclusion and discrimination and to fight for active ageing, inclusion of people with disabilities and promoting children’s rights. In this context, the new Child Guarantee and the new EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child will be among the top priorities. The Presidency will also organise a high-level meeting on the inclusion of persons with disabilities, to be held in Lisbon in April, and a conference on homeless people, to be held in June, with the goal of signing of a joint declaration.
Finally, the Presidency is expected to emphasise the importance of combating violence against women and domestic violence, both recognised as human rights violations.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Creating a European Health Union and reinforcing EU agencies. • Implementing the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, the EU4Health programme and the Green paper on Ageing. • Promoting the digital transformation of the health sector. • Advancing the European Pillar of Social Rights at the Porto Social Summit. • Fighting violence, discrimination and poverty. • Developing digital skills and securing fair minimum wages and working conditions. • A European Cancer Research Summit in May and an eHealth Summit in June. • A conference to mark the tenth anniversary of the Istanbul Convention to be held in April
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EYCS Education, Youth, Culture and Sport
In the field of education, the Portuguese Presidency has emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and continuous professional development in order to support citizens to remain competitive in a concentrated labour market. The Presidency is committed to promoting continuous investment in education, self-study and vocational and artistic training, as well as digital and environmental skills.
With this in mind, the Portuguese Presidency will look to foster the expansion of the provision of higher education to a broader and more diverse set of citizens. Moreover, the Presidency is committed to promoting the establishment of a European education area (EEA) by 2025 to increase education mobility.
Meanwhile, on culture and media, the Presidency has stated its primary objective is to ‘promote the recovery, resilience and sustainability’ of an industry which has suffered substantially from the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the Commission has reported that by Q2 2020 it had suffered losses of up to 70%. The Presidency has therefore committed to closely monitoring the Commission’s recovery plan for the sector and the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. In June, it will launch the new Creative Europe Programme in Lisbon.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Working towards the establishment of the European education area (EEA) by 2025. • Constructing a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training. • Prioritising the June launch of the new Erasmus+ and Solidarity Corps programmes. • Hosting a conference on the role of culture for social cohesion in Porto in May. • Hosting a high-level conference on artificial intelligence and the future of journalism in Lisbon in April. • Organising an EU Sport Forum.
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FAC Foreign Affairs External relations
On external relations, the Portuguese Presidency made a series of commitments, including notably to revitalise relations with the United States in light of the incoming Joe Biden administration on 20 January. The Presidency also outlined that it would pay particular attention to relations with India, with a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister scheduled for May.
The Presidency encouraged a focus on the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Further efforts will be made to implement the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Presidency also stated a prioritisation of abolishing the death penalty and to implement the EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2021-2025. The Presidency stated its intention to promote drug addiction policy, as well as emphasising the importance of implementing Council conclusions on EU external action on preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.
In terms of the European Green Deal and external relations, the incoming Presidency outlined that the preparation of the second UN Ocean Conference and initiatives under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea will be a major focus. On energy, the Presidency stated that it would continue EU initiatives on the evolution of the external dimension of energy policy, with a focus on Africa.
On digitisation and external relations, the Presidency committed to hosting the Digital Day in Porto in March. The Presidency added that in June the Digital Assembly that will approve the Lisbon Declaration on Digital Democracy with a Purpose in Lisbon.
In terms of migration, the Presidency committed to organising a ministerial conference on migration flows to be held in Lisbon, although no date was given. Further efforts were promised on building relations with the Maghreb region, EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, as well as organising an EU-Eastern Partnership Summit in February in Brussels. As the first Presidency in place after the UK left the transition period, the Portuguese Presidency also stated it would prioritise relations with the UK.
Mercosur was mentioned under External Relations, with the Presidency stating that it will pay particular attention to concluding agreements with Mexico and Chile, as well as the Mercosur agreement.
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FAC
The Portuguese presidency has commited to:
• Revitalise relations with the United States. • Focus on EU-India relations, with a meeting scheduled for May. • Implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. • Prioritisation of abolishing the death penalty and implementation of the EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2021-2025. • Promotion of drug addiction policy. • Hosting the Digital Day in Porto in March 2021. • Prioritisation of relations with the UK. • Prioritisation of agreements with Mexico, Chile and Mercosur.
Development and Humanitarian Action
During the Portuguese Presidency, the EU will focus on strengthening the partnerships with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, enhancing the future Post-Cotonou Agreement; the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument; and the European Peace Facility (EPF). The economic recovery of lower-middle-income countries, notably in the areas of climate change, economic cooperation, inclusive and sustainable trade, and investment, will also be a priority.
To that end, the sixth EU-African Union Summit will take place this year along with a high-level EU-Africa forum on the green economy and green investment, to be held in Lisbon in April.
The Portuguese presidency has commited to:
• Enhancing partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. • An EU-AU Summit and a high level EU-Africa forum on green economy. • Focusing on humanitarian crises.
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FAC Security and Defence
On security and defence, the overall task set out is to enhance Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) initiatives, complementing NATO.
The Portuguese Presidency has called for a more operational orientation of the EU Global Strategy, as well as supporting a task force set up by the European External Action Service (EEAS) to assess the response of Member States’ armed forces to the pandemic.
On defence capabilities, the Portuguese Presidency stated that it would contribute to the deepening of European cooperation on capability development with a view to promoting the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), alongside the specific role of SMEs. To support this, the Presidency has stated that it would advocate for the operationalisation of the European Defence Fund, focusing on the development of critical technology sectors. In order to discuss this and other matters, there will be a high-level conference on the impact of disruptive technologies on security and defence in Porto in April.
The Portuguese Presidency has highlighted that it would promote a reflection on maritime security, which would be based on the latest threat assessment in key maritime areas such as the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic. The Presidency also stated that it would develop a tool to implement the EU Maritime Security Strategy Action Plan.
The Portuguese Presidency has also pledged to analyse hybrid threats, cyber defence, maritime security (including capacity-building for partners), military mobility and the response to complex emergencies by deepening cooperation with regional entities in North Africa, the Middle East and the Sahel.
The Portuguese Presidency has committed to:
• Enhance Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) initiatives. • Contribute to the deepening of European cooperation on capability development with a view to promoting the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and SMEs. • Advocate for the operationalisation of the European Defence Fund. • Hosting a high-level conference on the impact of disruptive technologies on security and defence in Porto in April. • Advocate the inclusion of demanding criteria for adaptation to climate change in the Permanent Structured Cooperation. • Developing a tool to implement the EU Maritime Security Strategy Action Plan
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FAC Trade
On trade, the Portuguese Presidency has emphasised World Trade Organization (WTO) reform ahead of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled for 2021. Through the framework of the WTO, it has highlighted the importance of multilateral negotiations on fisheries subsidies.
The Portuguese Presidency has also stated that it will monitor the implementation of agreements with Australia and New Zealand, as well as the modernisation of the Chile trade agreement. It also committed to creating conditions for the signing of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and the modernised EU- Mexico Global Agreement.
Consolidation of trade relations with the United States will also be prioritised, as well as the implementation of the Geographical Indications Agreement with China. Also to be prioritised will be trade relations with India and the Southern Neighbourhood.
Continuing with the theme of cooperation with Africa, the Portuguese Presidency committed to deepening trade relations through the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and Angola’s joining of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Portuguese presidency has commited to:
• Supporting WTO reform ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference. • Monitoring agreements such as those with New Zealand and Australia. • Seeking to finalise the EU-Mercosur and EU-Mexico agreement. • Prioritisation of consolidating trade relations with the US. • Supporting Angola’s joining of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
33 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk The People
Meet the ministers who will chair the Council meetings DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa President
Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa was born on 12 December 1948.
He holds a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon and obtained a doctorate in Legal and Political Sciences in 1984, with Distinction and Commendation.
He became a tenured Professor in 1992, teaching at the University of Lisbon and later at the Portuguese Catholic University. He has chaired a number of boards, including as chair of the Institute of Legal and Political Sciences at the University of Lisbon and been a member of a number of pedagogical bodies. He has also lectured at Agostinho Neto in Angola, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique and the University of Eastern Asia in Japan.
Outside of politics and academia, Mr de Sousa was a founding member of the Expresso and Semanário newspapers, where he held management roles. He has also been a regular political commentator since the 1960s and has chaired or been a member of the managing bodies of several associations, social solidarity institutions and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of São Bento de Arnóia.
Mr de Sousa was one of the founding members of the People’s Democratic Party, which then later became the Social Democratic Party. He was its party leader from 1996-1999. He has also been Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and a member of the Council of State.
Mr de Sousa has been active in local politics as President of the Municipal Assembly of Cascais, local councillor, leader of the opposition in the Town Hall of Lisbon, and President of the Municipal Assembly of Celorico de Basto.
In 2016, Mr de Sousa successfully ran in the Portuguese Presidential elections as an independent candidate. He suspended his Social Democratic Party membership and ran on a ticket of moderation and cross-party consensus. He is set to compete in January 2021 Presidential elections and is polling on track for another victory.
Mr de Sousa is a Catholic and has been a member of several Church movements. He has two children from his marriage with Ana Cristina da Gama Caeiro da Mota Veiga. The two have now separated but have not divorced due to his Catholic beliefs.
35 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Antonia Costa Prime Minister
Antonio Costa was born on 17 July 1961 in Lisbon.
Antonio Costa joined the youth wing of the Socialist Party in 1975 at the age of 14, a year after the Carnation Revolution, the military coup which overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime.
Mr Costa graduated in Law from the University of Lisbon and briefly practiced as a lawyer in 1988 before he entered politics full time.
Mr Costa was a member of Lisbon City Council from 1982-1993, deputy of the Assembly of Republic from 1991-2004, and an alderman of Loures City Hall from 1993-1995. At the age of 34, in 1995 he was named Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, under the Socialist minority government of Antonio Guterres. He was subsequently appointed Justice Minister in 1999.
In 2004, Mr Costa successfully ran in the European Parliament elections and took up a seat, before he was appointed Interior Minister in 2005 under the Government of Jose Socrates. He quit this role in 2007, when he successfully ran as Mayor of Lisbon. He was re-elected to the post in both 2009 and 2013. He was also a member of the Regions’ Committee between 2010 and 2015 and Chairman of the Metropolitan Lisbon Area from November 2013 to April 2015.
In 2015, Mr Costa became Prime Minister of Portugal, forming a minority Government after the fall of the PSD Government just a month after its election victory. While Mr Costa’s party came second in the polls, it formed a Government with the support of the Communist Party and the Left Bloc party. The alliance at the time was nicknamed the “geringonca”, or odd contraption.
In 2019, Mr Costa was elected again as Prime Minister. In this role he has been successful in undoing austerity measures imposed by his predecessors whilst also reducing the Government’s deficit. He has experienced a number of no confidence motions from opposition parties from 2017 to 2019 relating to the loss of lives from wildfires and public sector strikes. Mr Costa’s Government survived on both occasions from support by its two left wing partners.
During his childhood, Mr Costa is said to have been raised in intellectual circles frequented by his parents, Orlando da Costa and Maria Antonia Palla. The former was a communist writer descending from a family in Goa, India, and the latter a journalist and women’s rights advocate. Mr Costa was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the President of India in 2017.
Mr Costa is married to Fernanda Maria Gonçalves Tadeu and has two children. Mr Costa is a fan of football team Benfica and also enjoys relaxing by doing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles.
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Ana Paula Zacarias Secretary of State for Europe / GAC (Affairs Council)
Ana Paula Zacarias was born on 5 January 1959 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Before entering politics, Ms Zacarias studied Cultural Anthropology in her hometown at the University of Lisbon, graduating in 1983. She had initially applied for medical school in 1977.
She subsequently entered the Portuguese Diplomatic Service in 1983, where she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in various roles. First as a Junior Counsellor for International Relations at the Office of the President of the Republic, then as Director of the Press and Information Department and as Vice-President of the Instituto Camões.
In 1992, during the Portuguese presidency of the EU, Ms Zacarias participated in the peace negotiations in the Middle East. She has also worked as a Consul in Curitiba from 1993-1996 and as a Deputy Permanent Representative in the delegation of Portugal to UNESCO in Paris from 2000-2005. She was the first resident Ambassador of Portugal to Estonia from 2005-2008 and then the Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union from 2009-2011.
From 2011-2015 Ms Zacarias was Head of Delegation of the EU Delegation in Brazil, before becoming Head of Delegation of the EU Delegation to Colombia and Ecuador from 2015 until July 2017.
In July 2017, Ms Zacarias was appointed as Secretary of State for European Affairs and has served in this role since.
Asked in an interview in 2017 on what Europe needs to do to be a more effective global actor, she stated that the EU needed to “take care” of its values and build on a “commercially competitive Europe, a social Europe”.
Ms Zacarias is part of the same European political grouping, the Party of European Socialists, as current German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth, who is chairing the GAC Council configuration.
Her father was reportedly in the military and her mother a postal worker, who sadly passed away when Ms Zacarias was young. She is the eldest of three children.
37 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Nelson de Souza Minister for Planning / GAC (GAC Cohesion)
Nelson de Souza was born in Goa, India in 1954.
He came to Portugal with his family at the age of seven, when his father went to work as a journalist for the TAP press office. He spent his childhood in the Ajuda zone.
Before entering politics, Mr de Souza achieved a degree in finance from the Instituto Superior de Economia in 1975.
Following this, he worked for the Ministry of Industry, between 1977 and 1995 and went on to become its Director-General. He also served as manager of the Specific Program for the Development of Portuguese Industry (Pedip), a European program that was created in 1988 to modernize the country’s industrial fabric. From 1996-2000 he worked in the administration of IAPMEI (Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation).
During the executive of José Sócrates, between 2005 and 2011, he managed the PRIME and COMPETE community fund programs. He also managed the QREN (National Strategic Reference Framework) between 2005 and 2011 and served as Executive Director-General of AIP (Associação Industrial Portuguesa) between 2012 and 2013. He was the Municipal Director of Finance at the City Council of Lisbon from 2013-2015.
Mr Souza has served in a number of posts in the Portuguese Government. He served as Secretary of State for Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade and Services from 2000-2001 and as head of the cabinet of the Minister of Economy of the XIII Constitutional Government.
He was appointed as Secretary of State for Development and Cohesion in 2015 after Prime Minister Antonio Costa formed a Government. He was then appointed as Minister of Planning in 2019, where he currently serves.
During his studies at Instituto Superior de Economia, Mr de Souza first met Minister of Social Security Vieira da Silva, President of the Assembly of the Republic Ferro Rodrigues, and economist Augusto Mateus.
38 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Francisca Van Dunem Minister of Justice / JHA (Justice)
Francisca van Dunem was born on 5 November 1955 in Luanda, Angola, then a Portuguese colony. She made her home in Portugal in 1973, aged 18 years old, to take a law course at the University of Lisbon.
She returned to Angola following its independence in 1975. Sadly, her brother and sister-in-law were murdered amid growing political unrest, so she returned to Lisbon with her now orphaned nephew, who she raised following her brother’s death. She resumed her course and graduated in July 1977.
She subsequently joined the Public Ministry in 1979, where she performed various functions over 30 years. These included: as a syndication and survey advisor at Alta Autoridade contra a Corrupção from 1985-1987, and as a public prosecutor in Labour Court, Criminal Court of Lisbon, and the Department of Investigation and Penal Action of Lisbon.
In 2001 she became director of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon and was then promoted to Lisbon’s Deputy Prosecutor General, a role she held from 2007-2015. It was during this time that she oversaw the fight against arms trafficking and corruption in the Navy. In 2012, she was considered one of the main candidates to occupy the position of Attorney General.
Ms van Dunem was a member of the Commission that reviewed the Procedural Criminal Law in 2009 and represented Portugal in several meetings and expert committees of international organizations, including the European Committee for Criminal Problems, the Council of Europe, and the European Observatory for Racism of the European Union.
In 2015, Ms van Dunem was appointed Portugal’s Minister of Justice in Antonio Costa’s first administration, becoming Portugal’s first black government minister in history. She has continued to serve in this position following the 2019 elections.
She is married to attorney and university professor Eduardo Paz Ferreira. They have one son and live in suburban Lisbon.
39 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Eduardo Cabrita Minister of Interior / JHA (Home Affairs)
Eduardo Arménio do Nascimento Cabrita was born on 26 September 1961 in Barreiro, Portugal.
He obtained a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon School of Law in 1984.
Before entering politics, he was a lecturer of Public Finance and Tax Law in Faculdade de Direito de Lisboa between 1982-1988, and member of the board of Faculdade de Direito de Lisboa from 1984–1985.
He has held a number of political positions including Secretary of State Assistant to the Minister of Justice from 1999-2002, before becoming president of Assembleia Municipal do Barreiro from 2002-2006.
In 2002 he became a member of parliament until 2005, and was elected again in 2009. Between 2011-2015, he was chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget, Finance and Public Administration. He was Secretary of State of Local Government from 2005-2009.
There were calls for his resignation in 2020 after a Ukrainian citizen was sent to a detention centre after refusing to board a flight out of Portugal, who later died in the centre after border inspectors handcuffed and beat him. Opposition lawmakers accused Mr Cabrita of taking too long to investigate the death and provide support for the family.
Mr Cabrita is married to Ana Paula Vitorino, also a member of António Costa’s cabinet as Minister of the Sea.
40 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
João Leão Minister of State and Finance / ECOFIN
João Leão was born in Lisbon on 15 February 1974. Mr Leão holds a degree in Economics from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Before entering politics, Mr Leão began his career in academia as a professor of Economics at ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in 2008. He also served as chairman of the Scientific Committee of ISCTE’s Department o f Economics between 2009 and 2010.
Subsequently, he was a member of the Economic and Social Council and the Statistical Council and the director of the Studies Office of the Ministry of Economy between 2010 and 2011. He integrated the Portuguese delegation in the Economic Policy Committee of the OECD in 2010 and 2012, and was also the advisor to the Deputy Secretary of State for Industry and Development from 2009-2010.
His first entry into front-line politics came in 2015, when he was appointed Secretary of State for Budget in Antonio Costa’s first administration. He served in this role until 15 June 2020, when he was appointed Finance Minister following the resignation of incumbent Mario Centeno. In his first week in the role, he defended the Supplementary Budget in Parliament, which sought to accompany the recovery of the national economy after the pandemic crisis.
Like Nelson de Souza and Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Mr Leão has ties to India and in 2017 received his Overseas Citizen of India card from President Narendra Modi. His father, Claudio Fernandes, grew up in India and moved to Lisbon. Mr Leão’s grandfather, Professor Leão Fernandes, taught at the Liceu (lyceum) in Panjim, India.
41 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Manuel Heitor Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education / COMPET (Space and Research) and EYCS (Education)
Manuel Heitor was born in Lisbon, in 1958.
He holds a PhD from Imperial College of London in Mechanical Engineering from 1985, and a post doctorate at the University of California San Diego from 1986. Following this, Mr Heitor further pursued his academic career at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), in Lisbon, where he developed investigation activity in Fluid Mechanics and Experimental Combustion.
He was co-chairman of IST between 1993 and 1998, during which time he studied the politics of science, technology and innovation. In 1998, he founded the ‘IN+ Center of Innovation, Technology and Development Policies Studies’ at IST, and in 2005 the center was ranked in the top 50 of global centers of research on Management of Technology, by the International Association for the Management of Technology.
Mr Heitor then became a Research Fellow at Texas University, in Austin, at the Institute of Innovation, Creativity and Capital. He founded and coordinated several international conferences related to technology policy and innovation and was a co-editor of the Purdue University Press book collection on Science and Technology Policy. In 2002, he co-founded the network ‘Globelics’, an international network for the economics of learning, innovation, and competence building systems.
He first joined the government in March 2005 when he was appointed the Secretary of State of Science, Technology and Higher Education, a position he held until June 2011.
Mr Heitor then returned to academia and IST, as a professor and headed up the Center of Innovation, Technology and Development Policies Studies, IN+ and coordinated PhD programs concerning Engineering and Public Policies and Engineering of Conception and Advanced Manufacturing Systems. He was also an Invited Professor at Harvard University, in 2011-2012.
In 2015, Mr Heitor returned to politics with his appointment as Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, a role he continued following the general election in 2019.
In an interview with The Business Year in 2019, Mr Heiter said that one of the biggest achievements of the XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal was the spending increase in higher education and thus, the number of students enrolled for the first time in public and private higher education institutions grew from 87,000 in 2014/15 to 103,000 by 2018/19.
42 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Pedro Siza Vieira Minister of State for the Economy and Digital Trabsition / COMPET (Internal market and Industry)
Mr Pedro Siza Vieira was born on 14 July 1964 in Lisbon, Portugal.
He read Law at the Law School of the University of Lisbon, graduating in 1987, and later acted as a teaching assistant at the department. Mr Siza Vieira was also an Assistant Professor at Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa from 2007-2017 and a Visiting Professor at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
As a lawyer, Mr Siza Vieira was an Associate, and later Partner in 1997, at Morais Leitão, J. Galvão Teles e Associados, Sociedade de Advogados (1992-2001). He was also a partner at Linklaters LLP (2002-2017) and acted as the Managing Partner of Linklaters Lisbon office between 2006-2016.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Law Firms (2008-2011) and President of the Portuguese Arbitration Association.
Mr Siza Vieira was on the arbitrations panels of: the Centre for Commercial Arbitration of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Commercial Arbitration Institute of the Oporto Commercial Association; Concórdia (Conciliation, Conflicts Mediation and Arbitration Centre); the Mediation and Arbitration Centre of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Brazil; and CREL (Extrajudicial Dispute Resolution Centre of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Angola).
Mr Siza Vieira has also been a member of several working groups for the elaboration of legislative proposals, including the Law of Urban Planning and Building, the Civil Liability of the State and Other Public Bodies, and the Portuguese Arbitration Law.
He was also a member of the High Counsel of the Administrative and Fiscal Courts and member of the Executive Committee of the Task Force for the Capitalization of Companies.
Mr Siza Vieira was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister in October 2017. They became Deputy Minister of the Economy in October 2018.
Following the general election that took place in October 2019, Mr Siza Vieira became the Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition.
In November 2020, it was revealed that Mr Siza Vieira was being investigated by multiple national agencies under suspicion of corruption, due to his favouring of the EDP/GALP/REN consortium in the hydrogen project for Sines, following a complaint by an MP.
43 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Pedro Nuno Santos Minister of Infrastructure and Housing / TTE (Telecommunications and Transport)
Pedro Nuno Santos was born in São João da Madeira, Aveiro, in 1977.
During his time at Lisbon School of Economics and Management, he became president of the RGA Bureau and a member of the Senate of the Technical University of Lisbon, before graduating with a degree in Economics.
After completing his education, he joined his family’s business, Grupo Tecmacal, SA., based in Madeira, it is a collection of service companies concerned with the development of industrial equipment.
He is said to have been passionate about socialist topics from a young age, joining the Socialist Youth aged 14 and then becoming its Secretary-General between 2004 and 2008. He campaigned strongly during this time for the right to abortion and same-sex marriage.
Mr Santos first entered the Portuguese Parliament in 2005. He has served as President of the Socialist district federation of Aveiro from 2010-2018, Vice-President of the PS Parliamentary Group, coordinator of PS deputies in the Economy Committee, and Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the XXI Government from 2015-2019.
He has been Minister of Infrastructure and Housing in the XXI Government since February 2019, where he monitors infrastructure policies in the areas of construction, real estate, transport and communications, including the regulation of public contracts, housing and urban policies.
Mr Santos is seen to be a staunch supporter of leftist policies and describes himself as a Social Democrat. He has stayed in Lisbon most of his life and now lives there with his wife, Ana Catarina Gamboa, chief of staff to the Assistant Secretary of State and Parliamentary Affairs, and their son.
44 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
João Pedro Matos Fernandes Minister of Environment and Energy Transition / TTE (Energy) / ENVI
João Pedro Matos Fernandes was born in Águeda, a city in the Centro Region of Portugal, in 1967.
He studied Civil Engineering at the Universidade do Porto and graduated in 1991. In 1995, he completed his Master’s in Transport at the Instituto Superior Técnico, in Lisbon.
From 1990-1995, Mr Matos Fernandes worked in the Northern Region Coordination Commission (Territory Planning), in the transport department.
Following this, he was an advisor to the Secretary of State of Natural Resources between 1995-1997, and he later went on to become the Head of Office of the Secretary of State Assistant to the Minister of Environment between 1997-1999.
He was Director of the consultant company Quarternaire Portugal between 1999-2005.
From 2005-2008, Mr Matos Fernades was a member of the board of Douro and Leixões Port Authority. He then became the Chairman of Douro and Leixões Port Authority between 2008-2012. Mr Matos Fernades was also the President of the Portuguese Port Authorities’ Association between 2008-2010 and Chairman of Viana do Castelo Port Authority from its inception in 2009-2012.
Mr Matos Fernandes was Professor in Instituto Superior Técnico (Infrastructures) and in Instituto Superior de Transportes (Energy and Environmental Consequences of Transport) and lectured in several Masters at the Universidade do Porto, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa and Nápoles University.
Between 2012-2013, he was advisor of the board in the company Terminals of North and Ports of North (Manica group), and was manager of Nacala Port, in Mozambique.
From 2014-November 2015, he was President of the board of Águas do Porto.
In 2015, he was appointed as the Minister of Environment until 2018, when he became the Minister of Environment and Energy Transition. In October 2019, he was appointed as the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action.
In October 2020, Mr Matos Fernades stated that “lithium is fundamental for decarbonisation” and that Portugal “must exploit it”. However, he clarified that regulations needed to be in place so that Portugal could mine it effectively.
45 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Maria do Céu Antunes Minister of Agriculture / AGRIFISH
Maria do Céu Antunes was born in 1970 in Abrantes, Portugal.
She holds a degree in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra and a postgraduate degree in Quality Management and Food Safety from the Egas Moniz School of Health Sciences.
Ms Antunes served as Mayor of Abrantes from 2010-2019. She also chaired the Council of the Médio Tejo Intermunicipal Community, was a member of the Economic and Social Council, and the Council of European Communities and Regions at the Standing Committee for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.
On the Portuguese Government website, it states she has also been a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Programme of the Centro Region - Centro 2020 and a member of the Executive Committee of the Regional Tourism Authority of the Centro de Portugal Region. Further, she has previously chaired the board of TecParques, the Portuguese Association of Science and Technology Parks.
She was appointed Secretary of State for Regional Development in February 2019 after nine years as Mayor. She served in this position up until October 2019, when she was appointed Minister for Agriculture, replacing Luís Capoulas Santos.
Some criticised the appointment of Ms Antunes at the time due to her inexperience with the agriculture portfolio, particularly with the important task of negotiating the Common Agricultural Policy.
Ms Antunes will be the third woman in a row to lead the AGRIFISH Council Configuration, a trend that looks set to continue until January 2022. She is also the second Portuguese woman to occupy the post of Minister of Agriculture, after Assunção Cristas.
Speaking in May 2020, she said: “I think that, after this pandemic, this crisis, our new normal will be completely different. And our job is to create conditions so that national production can increasingly be an option”.
Ms Antunes has two daughters, 22 and 24 years old respectively. She adopted her maiden name of Ms Antunes in 2020, having previously served under the name Ms Maria do Céu Albuquerque.
46 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Ricardo Serrão Santos Minister of Maritime Affairs / AGRIFISH
Ricardo Serrão Santos was born in 1954.
Mr Serrão Santos’ life before politics revolved around marine biology and ecology. Throughout his academic career he coordinated and chaired several scientific advisory bodies and committees, including the Oceanographic Institute of Paris.
He holds a doctorate in biology and animal ecology and has received a number of honours for his work including the WWF ‘Gift to the Earth’ award in 2002. Throughout his 30 years as a marine researcher, he has published over 300 scientific papers and books.
He entered politics in 2014 when he became a member of the European Parliament sitting as an S&D MEP. During his five-year term as an MEP, Mr Serrão Santos served as a member of the Committee on Fisheries, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as on the Delegation for Relations with Canada. Naturally his academic and political interests are connected.
While an MEP, Mr Serrão Santos also sat as a rapporteur for a proposal for regulation regarding conservation and control measures applicable to the Northwest Atlantic, as well as a file looking into a fisheries partnership with Madagascar. He also sat on similar files as a shadow rapporteur, including on a file preventing unregulated high seas fishing in the central Arctic ocean.
In October 2019, Mr Serrão Santos became the Minister for Maritime Affairs in the Portuguese national government.
He is member of the Portuguese Academy of Sciences and Emeritus Member of the Portuguese Navy Academy as well as the Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Marine Science/Deep-Sea Environments and Ecology.
Aside from his political postings, Mr Serrão Santos currently sits on a number of academic and ecological bodies. He sits as the Principal Researcher at the University of the Azores and is Pro-Rector at the university and is President of IMAR - Institute of Marine Research.
47 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Marta Temido Minister of Health / EPSCO (Health)
Marta Temido was born in Coimbra, a city in the Centro Region, Portugal on 2 March, 1974. She was appointed as the Minister for Health of the Portuguese Republic on 15 October 2018.
Ms Temido has a strong academic background, earning a degree in law (1992-1997) and a Master’s degree in Health Economics and Management (2004-2008) from the Universidade de Coimbra. She also holds a postgraduate degree in Hospital Management from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (1998- 2000).
Furthermore, she holds a PhD in International Health, Health and Development Policies from the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2011-2015).
Ms Temido has authored, or co-authored, nine publications which can be accessed here. She has also taught in several health institutions.
Before becoming Minister of Health, Ms Temido has held management and administration roles in several hospitals in the Portuguese National Health Service. From 2013-15, she was also President of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators.
From 2016-17, Ms Temido acted as the President of the Executive Board of the Central Administration of the Health System.
In 2018, Ms Temido held the positions of Deputy Director of the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of UNL and Non-Executive President of the Board of the Portuguese Red Cross Hospital. She was also a member of the advisory board of the Treatment Activities Group at the Institute for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Ms Temido was appointed as the Minister for Health on 15 October 2018, replacing Adalberto Campos Fernandes who “failed to get to grips with his brief”, according to the Algarve Daily News.
48 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Mariana Vieira da Silva Minister of State for the Presidency / EPSCO (Social Policy)
Mariana Vieira da Silva was born in 1978 in Lisbon.
She studied Sociology at the ISCTE-IUL in Lisbon and is in the process of completing a PHD in Public Policy at ISCTE. Having completed all her coursework she is now focusing on her dissertation which looks at health and education policies in Portugal.
Ms Vieira da Silva authored multiple publications whilst working as a researcher in public policy, health, education and justice policies at CIES-IUL. She was also part of the organising team of ISCTE’s Public Policy Forum.
Prior to working in government she worked as a trainer at both the General Directorate for the Qualification of Workers in Public Functions (INA) and the Portugeuese Institute for Public and Social Policies (IPPS-IUL).
She began working in government as an assistant to Minister of Education Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues from 2005-2009 and then as Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State to the Prime Minister from 2009- 2011.
She became a member of the Portuguese Government in 2015 as Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister, a position she held until February 2019, working alongside her father in government. Afterwards she became Minister of the Presidency and of Administrative Modernisation up until October 2019. Following the national elections, she continued as Minister of State for the Presidency.
In 2019 Ms Vieira da Silva was a member of the Advisory Board of “Descobrir” - Gulbenkian Program for Culture and Science run by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The program supports contemporary arts, providing education and support to professionals in cinema, the performing arts and literature.
Ms Vieira da Silva is the daughter of economist Margarida Guimarães and former Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity José António Vieira da Silva.
49 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Ana Mendes Godinho Minister for Labour, Solidarity and Social Security / EPSCO (Employment/Consumer Affairs and Social Policy)
Ana Mendes Godhino was born in June 1972 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Ms Mendes Godhino holds a postgraduate degree in Labour Law and Law from Lisbon University, where she also went on to coordinate the Tourism Law postgraduate degree programme.
At the start of her career she worked as a legal consultant and then a labour inspector at the Institute for the Development and Inspection of Working Conditions (IDICT).
Her work in the tourism sector began in 2005 when she worked as Deputy and then Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Tourism. She then moved on to hold several board positions in both the public and private sector. These included Vice-President of the Portuguese National Tourism Authority and the General Council of the Real Estate Fund, as well as Member of the Board of venture capital company Turismo Capital, and Member of the Board for the real estate fund company Turismo Fundos.
Returning to politics in 2012 Ms Mendes Godinho worked at the Porteguese Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) as head of the Department for the Support of Inspection Activity, and since 2015 she has held the position of Secretary of State of Tourism in the Portugese national government.
50 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Graça Fonesca Minister of Culture / EYCS (Culture)
Graça Fonseca was born in 1971. She studied a degree in law at the University of Lisbon before completing a master’s degree in economics at the University of Coimbra, and a PhD in sociology at the University Institute of Lisbon. During her time at Coimbra between 1996 and 2000, she worked as a researcher at the faculty of economics.
She served for a short period between 2000 and 2002 as the deputy director for the Ministry of Justice’s office of legislative policy and planning.
Ms Fonseca entered politics in 2005 when she served as the chief of staff for the Minister of State for Home Affairs and the Secretary of State for Justice. She held the latter post until 2008, just prior to her first election to public office.
In 2009, she was elected as a City Councillor at the Lisbon Municipality, taking on responsibility for Economy, Innovation, Education and Administrative Reform between 2009 and 2015.
From 2015-2018, Ms Fonseca served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Administrative Modernisation. She was appointed as the Minister of Culture in 2018 and has served in that post since.
During her political career, Ms Fonseca has been at the head of a number of reforms. Most notably, she was involved in the reform of Lisbon’s administrative boundaries. She worked to reduce the number of administrative parishes as well as increase the budget provided to parishes in the region.
Ms Fonseca was publicly rebuked after she made comments some deemed as insensitive regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cultural workers. When asked about the pressures faced by cultural workers during the pandemic, she avoided the question and instead stated that she had to go for a drink instead.
51 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Tiago Brandão Rodrigues Minister of Education / EYCS (Education)
Tiago Brandão Rodrigues was born in Braga, in 1977.
Mr Brandão Rodrigues attained a degree in biochemistry from the University of Coimbra in 2000 and then completed a PhD in the same subject from the same university in 2008.
During this period, he worked as a researcher in Dallas University as well as in the Biomedics Investigation Institute in Spain.
Following the completion of his PhD, he moved to become a researcher for Cancer Research UK at Cambridge University. He was sponsored in this role through the Marie Curie Program and the European Molecular Biology Organisation.
Celebrated in his field, Mr Brandão Rodrigues was awarded the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine prize in 2013. He pioneered a technique to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
Mr Rodrigues had his first experience of political life when he was made attaché to the Portuguese delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He was elected to Parliament a few years later in 2015, representing Viana do Castelo. That same year, he was made Minister of Education and has served in that role ever since.
As Education Minister, Mr Rodrigues has publicly called for a “true education for citizenship” agenda. This agenda would consist of an adult literacy program, alongside investment in vocational education. He set up this initiative in order to tackle what he believed to be “part of the Portuguese society that has shown itself to be reactionary”.
52 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
Augusto Santos Silva Minister of State and External Affairs / FAC (Trade)
Dr Santos Silva was born in Porto in 1956.
He studied history at the University of Porto in 1978 and obtained a doctorate in sociology from ISCTE in 1992.
Before entering politics, Mr Silva worked as an economics professor from 1981. During his career, he served as Dean of the University of Porto from 1998-1999, and he has published a number of books on sociology and political ideas.
Dr Santos Silva has been a member of the Socialist Party since 1990 and served on the National Board of Education from 1996-1999, the Commission on Social Security from 1996-1998 and the Board of Directors of the José Fontana Foundation from 2002-2005, which is affiliated with the Socialist Party. He also represented Portugal in the Council of Europe’s Education for Democratic Citizenship project from 1997-1999.
Since 2000, he has served in a number of ministerial roles, most recently as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (2005-2009), Minister of National Defence (2009-2011) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015-present).
53 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk The Trio
An overview of the current Trio DeHavilland EU Portuguese Presidency
The Trio
Member states holding the Presidency work closely together in ‘Trios’. Each Trio lasts 18-months, with each country in the Trio chairing all configurations of Council meetings for a 6-month period. Aims of each Trio are set by the European Council.
Portugal is the second country in the 10th Presidency Trio, following Germany (June-December 2020) and preceding Slovenia (July-December 2021). Trio Programmes ensure a fluid transition from one EU member state Presidency to the next through an 18-month agenda, which identifies issues to be addressed during their respective presidencies and is outlined within the Strategic Agenda 2019–2024.
55 DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2020 www.dehavilland.co.uk Photo attribution Photos of Portuguese Ministers are courtesy of: portugal.gov.pt
Photos relating to Portugal and its 2021 Presidency are courtesy of: 2021portugal.eu
The photos of MEPs Maria da Graça Carvalho and Pedro Marques are courtesy of: europarl.europa. eu
The photo of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is courtesy of: flickr.com/photos/photosmartinschulz/
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