Portugal has succeeded Germany as the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union from January 1.
Portuguese Prime Minister Costa said on the same day that Portugal will coordinate the positions of EU member states and undertake the task of promoting the European Union’s large-scale vaccination against the novel coronavirus and economic recovery.
Costa said on social media on the same day that Portugal felt both honored and responsible for taking over the baton from Germany.
Costa said that in the face of the still serious COVID-19 situation, Portugal will give priority to the implementation of the European Union’s mass vaccination plan and the epidemic relief plan, and achieve economic recovery characterized by green and digital transformation as soon as possible; promote the action plan for the social pillar based on the green revolution and the digital revolution; and strengthen the war in Europe. Slight autonomy, focusing on opening up to the whole world.
On the same day, Speaker of the European Parliament, Sussoli, European Commission President von der Leyen and others congratulated Portugal on taking over the presidency of the European Union.
Von der Leyen said he looked forward to working with Portugal for European economic recovery and people’s health.
The EU launched an economic recovery plan with a total of more than 1.8 trillion euros in July 2020, which is the largest economic stimulus package in the EU to date.
As the Presidency of the European Union, Portugal will undertake the implementation of this economic recovery plan.
This is the fourth time that Portugal holds the presidency of the European Union.
In the second half of this year, Slovenia will succeed Portugal as the rotating presidency of the European Union.
