The President of the Republic defended this Thursday that the European Union must adopt “exceptional regimes” to face the costs of the war in Ukraine, as it did in the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Just as there were exceptional situations, such as the pandemic, which led to exceptional regimes, there must also be, in terms of the costs derived from the war,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.in statements to journalists, after bilateral meetings with their Italian and German counterparts, in Valletta, where they participated in the 17th meeting of the Arraiolos Group.
The head of state admitted that “a part” of these costs “is beginning to be addressed, in the field of energy”but he said that he was referring mainly to financial issues and budget rules.
After defending on Wednesday that there should be a “fair treatment” at the European level of the possible increase in budget deficits due to the war and the economic situation, this Thursday he reiterated that he had raised the issue in his speech at the Arraiolos Group meeting, which brought together 12 EU heads of state with non-executive powers in Malta.
“No one objected, but I was one of the last to speak. I did not see any negative reaction from the presidents, but I do not know how it will be at the level of the European institutions and the prime ministers, ”he admitted.
The President of the Republic stressed that, at Thursday’s meeting, there was “total agreement”, including his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on the European Commission’s proposal to extend the temporary framework for state aid to Member states. of the European Union (EU) have more room to offset high energy prices, given the crisis accentuated by the war in Ukraine.
in the back, [ajudar] consumers for periods that, in some cases, go until the end of the year, in others until the middle of next year when it comes to investment in renewable energies or other types of reaction to the increase in prices due to the war,” he explained, considering that this measure ” It is a very important step”, since there were countries that had invested “billions” to offset the costs of gas.
“It was fair that there was equitable treatment and that some were not favored and others were disadvantaged,” he stressed.
Asked about the bilateral meeting he held with the Italian president, Sérgio Mattarella, and if he had discussed the growth of the extreme right in this country, the President of the Republic declined to go into details.
“We talk a lot about the issue of the coming winter, what the energy issue will be like, how there is going to be a common position on this, as well as the very strong effect, I am not saying explosive, that inflation can have. in certain countries,” she said, only.
Regarding the meeting of the Arraiolos Group next year, which will take place on October 5 and 6 in Porto, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa confirmed his intention to open the initiative a little to youth, in case some heads of state They can extend their stay. in Portugal and participate in a debate with young Portuguese.
“We will make a very flexible program,” he said, and said that he hopes that at dinner on the 5th – still celebrating the establishment of the Republic in Portugal – the presidents can have “contact with a reality that they will appreciate very much, which is the wine of the Douro and Porto”.
At the door of the hotel where he stayed in Valletta, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was approached -before and after his statements to journalists- by a Portuguese on vacation in the Maltese capital.
A couple of Madeirans even wanted to take a selfie with the head of state, who confided that he had met more Portuguese on his return on Wednesday night, without the presence of the media.
“They had a good time! I only have air conditioning,” lamented Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who this Thursday spent the whole day at the Palacio de Congresos del Mediterráneo and also has an official dinner that ends the 17th meeting of the Arraiolos Group.
Source: Observadora
