Portugal

President

Prime Minister

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (Independent, since March 2016)

António Costa (Socialist Party, since November 2015)

Population 10,276,617 (2019)
Size 92,212 km2 (35,603 sq. miles)
MEPs 21 (joined the EU in 1986)
Next presidential election

Next legislative election

January 2021

2023

Presidency of the Council January-June 2021
Last meeting with Boris Johnson None held to date
Brexit priorities The Prime Minister is confident Portugal will maintain a good relationship with the UK after Brexit. However, as a pro-European country, the main priority for the Portuguese is to ensure unity among the EU27.

For Portugal it will be important to protect the rights of British citizens in the country as many Brits own properties Portugal and yearly provide an economic boost to the tourism industry.

The Portuguese government insists the UK will have to pay a Brexit bill that reflects the commitments the UK has made until 2020.

With a vulnerable economy, Portugal wants to avoid any economic setbacks as a result of Brexit.

What Mr Costa said on Brexit

 

“The cause of the vote in the UK is no more than a British oddity, as they like to drive on the left or insist on being with one foot inside and one foot outside the EU […] the cause of the vote of the British is the same cause that led to the populists winning in Italy in Turin or Rome, the same cause for which in many countries of northern Europe the far right is growing and is the same cause for which eastern European countries are now the first to close their borders to those seeking refuge in Europe.”

“We want to work towards a constructive, open and close relationship with the U.K., both bilaterally and also in terms of the U.K.’s relationship with European Union as a whole.”

“It started long before the creation of the European Union and will continue long after. We have a very amicable relationship with the U.K.”

“We will be the closest neighbors to the U.K. within the European Union.”

Portugal’s priorities The government sought to end some austerity policies while sticking to European budget rules after it was hit hard by the eurocrisis and needed an EU and IMF bailout package. The government quickly announced an increase in minimum wage and a reversal of civil service wage cuts. Other priorities are public healthcare, education and social security.