Portugal to Take On EU Presidency With Southern Focus

 Portugal pledged on Thrusday to push forward EU reforms and focus on relations with nations in the southern hemisphere during its forthcoming presidency of the EU.

The first major event under the Portuguese EU presidency will be a summit with Brazil on July 4. Lisbon intends to place the former Portuguese colony and Latin American giant on an equal footing with the EU’s privileged partners such as the United States, Russia, China or India.

“We will do all we can to place relations with the south higher up on the European list of priorities,” Prime Minister Jose Socrates said.

Lisbon will also try to revitalize relations with Africa, boost Mediterranean dialog and contribute to Middle East peace efforts.

Lisbon must take on the treaty

Starting on July 1, when it officially takes over the presidency from Germany, Portugal will also take on considerable baggage, in particular the challenge of getting a revamped EU reform treaty approved.

The recent EU summit in Brussels forged a compromise on a reform treaty to overhaul decision-making processes in the 27-nation bloc, replacing a more ambitious plan for a common constitution. The new document is shorter, but could be fraught with more legal problems, partly because of special arrangements granted to Britain and Poland.

“Our goal is … not to lose the dynamics of the agreement reached in Brussels and to approve a new treaty as soon as possible,” Socrates said on Wednesday.

Lisbon wants a conference to begin drawing up the treaty on July 23 so that it can be approved in October.

(DW)

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