Lisbon, Feb. 9, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's presidency of the Council of the European Union is "an opportunity not to be missed" for the country to "leave a mark" on the bloc, two leading Portugal-based think tanks argue in an open statement addressed to the prime minister, António Costa.

In the joint statement, released on Tuesday, SEDES and Nossa Europa (Our Europe) begin by stressing that Portugal now has before it "an opportunity not to be missed", given that "only in 13 and a half years" will it again be presiding over the Council of the EU.

They argue that the government should therefore define priorities that seek not only the "benefit" of the EU, but also "the prestige of Portugal" and that it is "desirable to leave a Portuguese mark" that is "equal to" the country's first three presidencies of the Council.

Nossa Europa and SEDES argue that, over the six months of the presidency, Portugal must pay particular attention to the "fight against the pandemic", ensuring that there is "efficiency and speed in the coordination and implementation of national vaccination plans." To this end, the government "should act in close coordination with the European and international health authorities" as well as "with national governments to assist them in implementing their plans and coordinating responses."

The two think tanks call for "transparency and accountability on how European financial resources are spent", noting that some €1.8 billion are involved, and advocating, among other measures, "the adoption of stricter methods of project coordination and evaluation for the use of the funds made available."

Portugal's presidency has as one of its priorities the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with the "central event" of its stint being a Social Summit scheduled for 7 May in Porto.

"Nossa Europa and SEDES welcome this priority of the Portuguese presidency," the joint statement reads, adding, however, that the presidency must also ensure a stress "on an innovative dimension: social innovation and investment of impact" so that it does not end up allowing a "multiplication of proclamations of rights without much concrete happening."

The government should, it further argues, seek in the coming months to fight for "the protection of the rule of law and democracy" and, to this end, "should include in the European agenda alternatives such as the creation of a 'Copenhagen Commission', of independent experts, charged with pressing the alarm button when the systemic situation worsens seriously in a member state."

SEDES and Nossa Europa also express the belief that "Portugal can play a decisive role in rebuilding the transatlantic partnership and relaunching multilateralism" and that it should "monitor the process of UK withdrawal from the EU."

Finally, they argue that "the coming months will be crucial to boost, or not, the existence of COFE [Conference on the Future of Europe]" and so it will be up to Portugal as holder of the presidency "to reconcile the different visions and levels of ambition of each European institution" in this respect.

The declaration was drafted by Carlos Coelho, a former member of the European Parliament, with contributions from members of both think tanks, including Carlos Moedas, a former European commissioner, Miguel Poiares Maduro, a former government minister, Rui Tavares, founder of the Livre party, António José Seguro, a former leader of the governing Socialist Party, and Pedro Mota Soares, Lisbon, Feb. 9, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's presidency of the Council of the European Union is "an opportunity not to be missed" for the country to "leave a mark" on the bloc, two Portugal-based non-governmental organisations 5 argue in an open statement addressed to the prime minister, António Costa.

In the joint statement, released on Tuesday, SEDES and Nossa Europa (Our Europe) begin by stressing that Portugal now has before it "an opportunity not to be missed", given that "only in 13 and a half years" will it again be presiding over the Council of the EU.

They argue that the government should therefore define priorities that seek not only the "benefit" of the EU, but also "the prestige of Portugal" and that it is "desirable to leave a Portuguese mark" that is "equal to" the country's first three presidencies of the Council.

Nossa Europa and SEDES argue that, over the six months of the presidency, Portugal must pay particular attention to the "fight against the pandemic", ensuring that there is "efficiency and speed in the coordination and implementation of national vaccination plans." To this end, the government "should act in close coordination with the European and international health authorities" as well as "with national governments to assist them in implementing their plans and coordinating responses."

The two think tanks call for "transparency and accountability on how European financial resources are spent", noting that some €1.8 billion are involved, and advocating, among other measures, "the adoption of stricter methods of project coordination and evaluation for the use of the funds made available."

Portugal's presidency has as one of its priorities the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with the "central event" of its stint being a Social Summit scheduled for 7 May in Porto.

"Nossa Europa and SEDES welcome this priority of the Portuguese presidency," the joint statement reads, adding, however, that the presidency must also ensure a stress "on an innovative dimension: social innovation and investment of impact" so that it does not end up allowing a "multiplication of proclamations of rights without much concrete happening."

The government should, it further argues, seek in the coming months to fight for "the protection of the rule of law and democracy" and, to this end, "should include in the European agenda alternatives such as the creation of a 'Copenhagen Commission', of independent experts, charged with pressing the alarm button when the systemic situation worsens seriously in a member state."

SEDES and Nossa Europa also express the belief that "Portugal can play a decisive role in rebuilding the transatlantic partnership and relaunching multilateralism" and that it should "monitor the process of UK withdrawal from the EU."

Finally, they argue that "the coming months will be crucial to boost, or not, the existence of COFE [Conference on the Future of Europe]" and so it will be up to Portugal as holder of the presidency "to reconcile the different visions and levels of ambition of each European institution" in this respect.

The declaration was drafted by Carlos Coelho, a former member of the European Parliament, with contributions from members of both think tanks, including Carlos Moedas, a former European commissioner, Miguel Poiares Maduro, a former government minister, Rui Tavares, founder of the Livre party, António José Seguro, a former leader of the governing Socialist Party, and Pedro Mota Soares, a former parliamentary leader of the main opposition, the centre-right Social Democratic Party.

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