Brussels, Jan. 20, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's prime minister, António Costa, on Wednesday called the European Union's Pillar of Social Rights "the best vaccine against inequality, fear and populism", saying that it would serve to "give Europeans confidence" that changes now underway "are an opportunity" for them.

"Populisms that undermine our democracies feed on fear," he said. "Making the social pillar a reality is therefore the best vaccine against inequality, fear and populism."

Costa was speaking in a debate in the European Parliament, where he presented the priorities of Portugal's six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union to members of the assembly.

He stressed that the implementation of the social pillar was a priority of the presidency and that it would serve as "a basis of confidence for Europeans in Europe's ability to lead the climate and digital transitions" in the coming months and years.

"The development of the social pillar is fundamental to give confidence to Europeans that the changes we are experiencing are not a threat, but can and must be an opportunity," the prime minister stressed.

In this context, Costa highlighted plans for what he called the "central event" of Portugal's EU Council presidency - the Social Summit scheduled for 7 May in Porto - which is to bring together employer organisations and trade union federations, representatives of civil society, the presidents of the EU institutions and the member states.

"The main objective of the summit is to give a strong political impetus to the action plan that the [European] Commission will present in March and which embodies the ambition expressed by our citizens to put into practice the twenty general principles proclaimed in 2017 in Gothenburg," Costa stressed.

He also explained that the social pillar would serve to "strengthen citizens' qualifications" so that they "are actors and not victims" in the climate and digital transition, and to "invest more in innovation" and "strengthen the competitiveness" of companies.

All of this, according to the prime minister, would allow the "strengthening of social protection" and ensure that "nobody is left behind".

After last Friday welcoming to Lisbon a delegation from the European Commission, led by its president, Ursula von der Leyen, last and earlier hosting a visit by European Council President Charles Michel, at the official launch of Portugal's presidency earlier this month, Costa was at the parliament to complete the round of institutional discussions on its programme for the six months.

TEYA/ANE/ACC/IG/ARO // ARO.

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