President Sommaruga informed her discussion partners about the state of the dossier on Europe. Last week the Federal Council decided on its position regarding the institutional agreement and took up contact with the EU. President Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Costa set out Portugal’s plans for its EU presidency in the first half of 2021.
With regard to the coronavirus crisis, Portugal and Switzerland agree that close consultation and coordination is extremely valuable. Switzerland’s inclusion in the European crisis management mechanisms has proved its worth, said President Sommaruga.
A further topic was work towards a climate-friendly recovery after the pandemic (‘Green Recovery’). President Sommaruga and her discussion partners informed each other about the climate policies of their respective countries. They also exchanged views on how Switzerland and Portugal, as like-minded states, can best achieve their environmental policy goals at international level.
The two sides commended their longstanding and close relations. There are currently around 260,000 Portuguese nationals living in Switzerland, making up the third-largest group of foreign nationals in the country, while some 4,500 Swiss nationals live in Portugal. Investment in renewable energies is playing an increasing role in economic relations between the two countries.
The video conferences on Monday and Tuesday, 16 and 17 November, took place instead of the Ms Sommaruga’s planned visit to Lisbon, which had to be cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
Further information:
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Portugal
Address for enquiries:
DETEC Communication: Annetta Bundi
+41 78 646 38 80, info@gs-uvek.admin.ch
Publisher:
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications