MNE prioritizes Europe, CPLP, Internationalization of Economy and Language

These are the eight core axes of Portugal’s foreign policy for 2022 presented to justify the ministry’s spending, integrated in the State Budget Proposal (OE) for next year whose document was delivered to Parliament on Monday by Finance Minister Joao Leon.

According to the document, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has budget allocations for 2022 out of a total consolidated expenditure of 524.4 million euros, which by 26% exceeds the estimated implementation until the end of 2021.

According to data on the budget program for external representatives, contained in the report accompanying the SO 2022 proposal, actual consolidated expenditures are projected to be €489.4 million, with total consolidated revenue for 2022 amounting to €524.4 million.

Of the total consolidated revenue, 57.8% refer to tax revenue (303 million euros), with the remaining funding from European funds (85.6 million euros), private revenue (69.2 million euros) and transfers within the scope of public administration (66.6 million euros).

“Portugal will prioritize the implementation of measures aimed at the robust recovery of European economies, as recommended in the Road Map to Recovery – towards a more resilient, more sustainable and equitable Europe, which responds to the social, human and epidemiological crisis,” reads the Policy and Measures chapter of the report.

The MNE ensures Lisbon continues to engage in the fight against climate change, devoting “special attention” to the approval and implementation of the new legislative package aimed at ensuring compliance by the European Union (EU) with a target of reducing at least 55% of emissions (relative to 1990 levels) by 2030 (fit for 55).

Portugal will also pay special attention to the EU’s relationship with the UK, as well as the common challenges that the union will have to face, focusing on the rule of law, immigration, energy transition or expansion.

In the field of the Union’s foreign policy, he will give the highest priority to relations between Europe, Africa, India, Latin America and transatlantic relations.

MNE ensures that Portugal will continue to advocate for effective multilateralism, within the framework of the United Nations, in promoting peace and security, human rights, the climate agenda, sustainable development, migration and oceans, and to continue campaigning for Portugal’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the term 2027/28.

It also intends to strengthen its involvement in all corners of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and will continue to participate “vigorously” in other multilateral organizations to which it belongs.

The Portuguese government, based on foreign policy, wants to develop bilateral relations with countries of all continents, strengthen the diplomatic and consular network, increase cooperation for development, expand programs for the internationalization of the Portuguese language and culture, and continue to support internationalization. of the economy, with the implementation of the New Internationalization Program 2030 and the Expatriate Investment Support Program.

Connecting with communities living abroad and supporting the return of immigrants is a “basic line of action for the government.”

On Monday night, the government handed over to the Assembly of the Republic the proposed state budget for 2022 (OE22), which expects the Portuguese economy to grow by 4.8% in 2021 and 5.5% in 2022.

In the document, the executive estimated that the national public accounts deficit should be 4.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 and decrease to 3.2% in 2022, and also predicted that the Portuguese unemployment rate would fall to 6.5 % Next year. Reaching its lowest level since 2003.

Public debt is expected to reach 122.8% of GDP in 2022, compared to an estimate of 126.9% for this year.

The first parliamentary debate for OE2022 will take place between October 22 and 27, the day the public vote will take place. The final global vote is scheduled for November 25 at the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon.

Finance Minister Joao Liao presents the budget proposal today, at 9:00 a.m., at a press conference in Lisbon.