EU: Portuguese Presidency of the Council targets breakthroughs on social issues

Portugal took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2021 and the member state has clearly placed social issues at the top of its agenda for its six-month presidency. “Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital recovery,” is the motto chosen by Portugal, which plans to organise an informal social summit of European leaders and to reach an agreement in the Council of the EU on the coordination of social security systems and minimum wages, amongst other things.

On 7 January, when outlining Portugal’s priorities for the six months it will preside over the discussions among member states at the Council, the country’s prime minister Antonio Costa said: “Some are afraid of [impact of] digitalisation, others of that of the climate transition on the car industry. We need to find vaccines against these fears and the best vaccine is a strong social pillar.” Currently led by a left-wing government, Portugal has chosen to make social issues one of its three main priorities.…

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