Brussels, Jan. 14, 2021 (Lusa) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is to underline the importance of the social summit in May under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union because it is a pillar that "makes a positive difference in people's lives".

"It is essential that the Portuguese presidency has the Social Summit in May as one of its focuses", she stressed in an interview with Lusa and other Portuguese media in Brussels.

"I particularly appreciated that the Portuguese presidency highlighted the importance of the social angle because, at the end of the day, people will ask: 'Does it make a positive difference in my life?', Von der Leyen said.

She stressed that the focus on the social pillar - one of the Portuguese presidency's priorities - is the way for the 'NextGenerationEU' recovery package of €750 billion to be successful in alleviating the impact of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The recovery fund will only succeed if we can make a real positive difference to people's lives after this pandemic that has caused so much suffering during these difficult times," she said.

That difference will be made by supporting the European economy's recovery and by modernising it - through digitisation and bringing the business fabric into line with the European Ecological Pact.

Von der Leyen pointed out in the interview that the Commission has received drafts of the Recovery and Resilience Plan from 15 Member States (which implement the 'NextGenerationEU' funds), Portugal being "one of the first", stressing that Brussels is "looking forward to the final version".

Portugal will have "access to a total of €28 billion, €14 billion in loans and €14 billion in grants", through the recovery package she said, considering it "of enormous importance" to invest in digitisation and the European Ecological Pact.

"This modern technology to fight climate change and to be world market leaders and pioneers in sustainable technologies and clean technologies will determine the European Union's position in the global marketplace," she added.

 The Portuguese presidency is organising a Social Summit and an informal European Council in Porto on 7 and 8 May, with the final approval of a binding declaration on the EU's social pillar, which will be the central event of the six-month period.

Promoting the EU as a leader in climate action and accelerating the digital transformation at the service of citizens and businesses are also priorities set by Portugal for its presidency of the Council, which ends on 30 June and has as its motto "Time to act: for a fair, green and digital recovery".

The president of the European Commission is in Portugal this Friday for the traditional visit of the EU executive to the country which holds the six-month presidency of the Council, accompanied by only eight members of the college due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ursula von der Leyen will be accompanied on her trip to Lisbon by the three executive vice-presidents, Frans Timmermans (European Ecological Pact), Valdis Dombrovskis (An Economy at the Service of People) and Margrethe Vestager (Digital), the EU Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, by Vice-Presidents Margaritis Schinas (Promoting the European way of life) and Maros Sefcovic (Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight), by Portuguese Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (Cohesion and Reforms), and by Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, who is responsible for Social Affairs, one of the main priorities of the Portuguese presidency.

The creation of social responses, with investment in the Portuguese health service (NHS) and housing, and the promotion of employment, through more investment and skills, are the Portuguese government's priorities for the Recovery and Resilience Fund, according to the first outline delivered in October 2020 in Brussels.

The areas of social vulnerability and productive potential and employment are those to which the government will allocate more EU funds, totalling €5.6 billion.

According to the French agency AFP, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused at least 1.9 million deaths worldwide, among more than 92.3 million cases of infection.

In Portugal, more than 8,000 people have died out of more than 500,000 confirmed cases of infection, according to the health authority (DGS).

Last July, the European Council approved a Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 of €1.074 trillion and a Recovery Fund ('NextGenerationEU') of €750 billion to tackle the crisis generated by Covid-19.

Between the two, Portugal is expected to raise around €45 billion in grants in 2021-209.

IG/ADB // ADB.

Lusa