Germany and Portugal - together for Europe - Main contents
Germany and Portugal have liaised closely together with Slovenia over the past two years regarding their current Trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Many projects in the fields of business and culture demonstrate the diversity of their bilateral relations.
Things were actually supposed to turn out quite differently. Two years ago, when preparations began for the successive EU presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia from July 2020 to December 2021, there was a consensus that the EU’s relations with the UK and the European response to climate change should be at the top of the agenda during these 18 months. Numerous meetings in the trio format took place in Berlin, Lisbon and Ljubljana between representatives of German, Portuguese and Slovenian ministries to define our common agenda for Europe.
However, with the COVID‑19 pandemic, Europe’s economic and social recovery has now shifted to the top of the agenda. Portugal’s voice is also particularly important in these debates. After all, Portugal successfully managed to overcome the impacts of the euro crisis.
At the same time, Portugal continues to be a key pro‑European partner for Germany. German-Portuguese relations are so strong primarily because they are built on a common foundation, namely a shared commitment to the EU and to European values. From as early as the transition to democracy in the 1970s, German parties specifically supported Portuguese pro‑democracy players. The fall of the dictatorship was, at the end of the day, a prerequisite for Portugal’s accession to the European Community, the predecessor organisation of today’s EU.
Portugal will be the partner country at the Hannover Messe in 2022. The ceremonial signing of the contract took place at the residence of the German Ambassador on 7 October 2020 © Carlos Porfírio - Puro Conceito