The President of the Republic welcomed the European Commission’s proposal on energy, to strengthen support for companies and the extension of state aid, calling it “fair, intelligent and adequate”.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking at the end of the 17th meeting of the Arraiolos Group, in statements to the media, after the meeting that brought together twelve non-executive heads of state of the European Union in Malta.

The Portuguese head of state welcomed the unity registered at the meeting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the response given by the European Union (EU).

We underline how vital the European Union’s global response is to a global war, not just a local or regional one, and we underline European unity in the area of ​​energy,” he said.

At this point, the President of the Republic made a point of welcoming the European Commission’s proposal known this Thursday. “It is fair, intelligent and appropriate”he said.

The Portuguese President of the Republic was one of the 12 heads of state who made statements to the press (in English) at the end of the meeting, at a time when he had no right to questions from the media.

The European Commission proposed this Thursday an extension of the temporary framework of state aid so that the Member States of the European Union (EU) have more margin to compensate for the high prices of energy, in the face of the crisis accentuated by the war in Ukraine.

On the other hand, the Commission also approved the reinforcement of support for gas-intensive industries, up to 40% of the eligible cost, allowing the support limit to be increased from 400,000 euros to 500,000 and extended to the agri-food processing industry.

Marcelo announces the next meeting of the Arraiolos Group for October 5 and 6 in Porto

The President of the Republic also announced that the 18th meeting of the Arraiolos Group, which annually brings together the non-executive heads of state of the European Union, will take place on October 5 and 6 next year in Porto.

Although it had already been decided that the next meeting of this Group would be in Portugal —as a way of commemorating 20 years of the initiative launched in 2003 in the Alentejo town of Arraiolos by the then President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio— the dates and the Location.

The meeting will thus coincide, in part, with the celebrations of the anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic in Portugal.

“We will celebrate 20 years of this Group and we will do it on October 5 and 6, in Porto, in the north of Portugal. At that time, we hope to do it without a pandemic, without a war. A war ended with a victory for justice, international law, human rights, democracy, freedom and democracy,” he said, referring to the military offensive launched by Russia against Ukraine.