President of the European Parliament Roberta METSOLA and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís MONTENEGRO hold a press conference after their meeting in Lisbon. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

press point

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Portugal (T)

Portugal

Lisbon

president's agenda

MONTENEGRO, Luís (PT)

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Luís MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Lu&iacute;s MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister, Very good afternoon. I would like to thank you in advance for your presence and to convey to the President of the European Parliament, my dear friend Roberta Solla, the greetings of the Portuguese Government. We had the opportunity to exchange views once again regarding the various challenges facing Europe today. Reaffirm the commitment of the Government of Portugal to the values of the European Union, with all the commitment we have to the challenges ahead. Just this week we had the opportunity to meet at the beginning of the European Council meeting, where we discussed such important topics as Europe's aid to the Ukrainian people and our condemnation of Iran's attack on Israel, the situation in Gaza, the European Union's relations with Turkey and many of the challenges that arise from an economic and social point of view in the coming years to Europe, in the sense of having a more competitive, more thriving internal market capable of creating more wealth, which can then generate more well-being in our citizens, which is, after all, the ultimate objective of the governments of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Lu&iacute;s MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister, We share common values, we share the interest in safeguarding peace, the European Union's spirit of solidarity and of being a reference in the world for democracy, respect for human rights, progress and well-being. We have started in European elections on June 9th. Portugal is perhaps the country where the participation challenge is highest on that day, because it precedes a national holiday on June 10, the day of Portugal. In a week where in many places, such as the country's capital, Lisbon, there is another holiday, Saint Anthony's Day, on June 13th. It is, therefore, a week in which many Portuguese take the opportunity to plan days of rest, if not even vacation enjoyment, which, together with the already traditional lower participation rate, poses an added challenge to Portugal.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Lu&iacute;s MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister,I had the opportunity to share with the President of the European Parliament the commitment of the Portuguese Government to launch a voter awareness campaign for two circumstances. First of all, the possibility we are working on that the exercise of the right to vote can be carried out in mobility, that is, people can exercise their right to vote throughout the national territory and not just in the voting section, where they are normally registered. And secondly, also carry out an awareness-raising campaign to take advantage of the instruments provided by the law, namely early voting. I myself will set the example and many members of the government voting on June 2. Not that I was prevented either from thinking about being on vacation or from using some special rest on the 9th, but precisely to show Portuguese voters who have other plans that it is possible to exercise their right to vote a week earlier and that with this they can contribute to what is the country's design in the coming years to choose our representatives in the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Lu&iacute;s MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister, Therefore, also choose the next protagonists of all European institutions, of all bodies of the European Union, and also to discuss the future of Portugal. To be Portuguese today is to be European. To be European is to be concerned about the future of all of us. I had the opportunity to convey this message to President Roberta Mendes and I finally want to thank her very special thanks, a word of much, much recognition for all the help she has given to Portugal. It is not because I am invested today in the functions of Prime Minister that I address these words of gratitude to you. Because he was already doing it when he was in the opposition, when he was not invested in these functions. These are evidence of friendship, of availability, of collaboration with Portugal, whether in the functioning of the European Parliament, in the matters that are often dealt with in the European Parliament, or even on the sidelines, in the judiciary of influence that the position of President of the European Parliament provides. It has in fact been very relevant for Portugal. And I want, on behalf of the Portuguese Government, once again, to thank you very, very deeply for all the friendship, all the work that Roberta Metsola has done to Portugal and Europe. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, Good afternoon. Thank you dear Prime Minister. Dear Lu&iacute;s, thank you for hosting me today. I am delighted to be back in beautiful Lisbon. Lu&iacute;s, we've known each other for a long time. I have always been impressed by your dedication, your leadership and commitment. And now, as you begin to realise your European vision for modern Portugal, I'm so proud to be here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, Today, we have had the opportunity to follow up on our discussions at the European Council. Earlier this, week we talked about the European Single Market as our most powerful tool of convergence and our most valuable asset, that our economic area still holds the potential to deliver even wider benefits for our people, about the need to increase our competitiveness, to remove barriers and complete our single market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, 'We also talked about Europe's role in the world. We spoke about the need to keep supporting Ukraine. We talked about the need to de-escalate and stop the situation in the Middle East from spiralling further. The main discussion point, however, was of course the upcoming elections and the importance of people going out to vote- Here, I am fully aware with the difficulties of the election date in Portugal, but in these times when there are now fewer people living in a democracy than outside of one, I would call it our joint responsibility to safeguard democracy and vote on the 9th of June or one week earlier.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, 'This was also something I discussed earlier today with both President Marcelo Rebelo de SOUSA and President AGUIAR-BRANCO. I am confident that we can count on all the institutions of Portugal to continue to play a proactive role in raising citizens awareness about the elections. And I can assure you that all the Portuguese Members of the European Parliament will do their part.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, 'Defending democracy is becoming even more important when we consider Russia's disinformation campaigns and the strengthening of pro-Kremlin sentiments ahead of our European elections. This is not just a threat anymore. It is a possibility, and one that we must counter together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, Finally, next week, the Portuguese will mark the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. This is the perfect time to reflect on the benefits of European integration and assess decades of European cooperation. It will be a time to speak up for Europe, to encourage people to vote, because just as the European Union has helped transform Portugal, Portugal has transformed the European Union and will continue to do so for the better.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta Metsola, EP President, 'Dear Luís, you said two days ago in Brussels, we need a strong Europe in the world and a strong Portugal in Europe. So dear Luís, allow me to congratulate you on appointing five former Members of the European Parliament to your cabinets. Our loss will be your gain, and there is no better guarantee of a stronger, future-driven agenda and protecting our joint project of freedom, democracy and rights. That requires a truly strong Portugal and a strong Europe. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Lu&iacute;s MONTENEGRO, Portuguese Prime Minister, Now I just have to share that the President offered me a photograph of Diogo de Freitas do Amaral, sometime in 1979 or 80, when Portugal's accession to the European Union was still under way and when both assumed responsibility in a government with a Democratic Alliance. They were accompanied by members of the European Commission.