News archive - Portugal takes the lead of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
On 1 January 2021, Portugal took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Germany.
Portugal is taking over the Presidency at a particularly difficult moment, when the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic consequences present an unprecedented challenge for the EU and its Member States, requiring decisive and wide-ranging action.
With the motto ‘Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital recovery’, Portugal takes over this Presidency with three major priorities for the EU:
- To promote a recovery leveraged by the climate and digital transitions;
- To implement the European Pillar of Social Rights of the European Union as a distinctive element for ensuring a fair and inclusive climate and digital transition;
- To strengthen Europe's autonomy whilst remaining open to the world, taking a leading role in climate action and promoting a digital transformation in the service of people.
These priorities will be pursued along five lines of action:
1 — Resilient Europe: Promoting recovery, cohesion and European values
2 — Green EuropePromoting the EU as a leader in climate action
3 — Digital Europe Accelerating the digital transformation for citizens and businesses
4 — Social EuropeEnhancing and strengthening the European social model
5 — Global Europe Promoting a Europe that is open to the world.
The Portuguese Presidency's Programme is the document that details the main priorities and lines of action in the period 1 January – 30 June 2021. The Programme was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 17 December 2020.
Read a summary of the main priorities here.
______
During the first half of 2021, Portugal will be taking over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In conjunction with Germany and Slovenia, Portugal is part of the Trio Presidency during the period from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2021, in the following order:
- from July until December 2020: Germany's presidency;
- from January until June 2021: Portugal's presidency;
- from July until December 2021: Slovenia's presidency.
The three countries already worked together in 2007-2008, forming the Trio Presidency. With predefined common priorities in line with the European Union's Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024, the Trio Presidency is being transformed and marked by the crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information...
- Europe
- General
Entry created by Admin WBC-RTI.info on January 15, 2021
Modified on January 28, 2021
