Welcoming the Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro to the European Parliament, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola expressed Parliament’s solidarity with everyone affected by the natural disasters in Portugal and paid tribute to the bravery and commitment of all emergency workers.
Dear colleagues, With us today is the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, as part of our “This is Europe” series of debates. Prime Minister, dear Luís, welcome to the European Parliament. Thank you for being here. Let me begin by expressing our solidarity with everyone affected by the natural disasters in Portugal and paying tribute to the bravery and commitment of all emergency workers. This summer, even while facing wildfires at home, Portuguese firefighters crossed the border to walk into fires in neighbouring Member States. They represent the very best of Europe and we thank them. Dear Prime Minister, this year we celebrate forty years of Portugal in the European Union – four decades of Portuguese leadership. Of Portugal shaping our Union and of our Union shaping Portugal. This Parliament shares your ambition for a more competitive Europe, with less bureaucracy, and more room for companies to grow, scale and create jobs. We also share your determination to improve energy connections between Member States – I know your work on the Iberian Peninsula reflects that. Energy security is part of international stability, and we welcome your focus on both as Portugal prepares to take its seat on the United Nations Security Council. Of course, delivering on this agenda means securing a budget that can support it. That’s why reaching an agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework is so urgent. Parliament and Portugal share a lot of common ground, and Prime Minister, we know we can rely on you to play a constructive role in the negotiations ahead. It is fitting that the treaty that guides our Union bears the name of your capital. Portugal may sit on the western edge of our continent, but its place is at the heart of our common project. As we take the next steps on our common European journey, we will need to find our own Portuguese perseverance and persistence. That is how we keep building Europe. Step by step. Brick by brick. Vote by vote. And here I will quote you as you say: Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. So without further ado, dear Prime Minister, dear Luis, the floor is yours. You can read the President's speech in Portuguese here.