The Presidents of the Slovak Republic and Portugal, Peter Pellegrini and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, confirmed the continuation of the existing relations between their countries on Wednesday in Lisbon. However, after the bilateral negotiations, they emphasized that there is room to further deepen mutual relations, especially in the defense and economic fields. At the same time, Pellegrini praised Portugal’s decision last year to increase the number of its soldiers operating in the Slovak Republic as part of the NATO Multinational Battle Group at the Lešť Training Center. The TASR special reporter informs about it.
- The presidents of Slovakia and Portugal confirmed the continuation of bilateral relations.
- Both emphasized the potential for deepening cooperation in the economy.
- Portugal is increasing the number of soldiers operating in Slovakia.
- The signed memorandum strengthens cooperation in the field of healthcare.
Pellegrini was received by Rebelo de Sousa at the Belém presidential palace in Lisbon on a state visit, which is taking place after 20 years on the part of the Slovak head of state. The country was last visited in 2005 by the then Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič.
Business cooperation
According to Pellegrini, trade exchange between Portugal and Slovakia has much greater potential than it currently achieves. Even the cooperation in the defense industry or engineering production, in which there is significant strengthening, does not reach such values as we would imagine, noted Pellegrini.
Rebelo de Sousa said that although Portuguese-Slovak cooperation is dynamic, he would like to strengthen it not only in defense but also in economic policy. He identified economic cooperation as the central point of the Slovak President’s visit. He added that the governor of the National Bank of the Slovak Republic, Peter Kažimír, also arrived in Portugal, who is discussing economic issues and future challenges of the EU and the eurozone.
Healthcare and memoranda
According to Pellegrini, cooperation with Portugal in the field of healthcare has great potential, for example the exchange of practices and the search for breakthroughs in specific parts of science or the treatment of the most complicated diseases. His delegation includes the Slovak Minister of Health Kamil Šaško, who on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with his Portuguese partner focused on central procurement.
Pellegrini also expressed his belief that his ongoing visit will contribute to a closer partnership between Slovakia and Portugal.
Common attitudes
According to him, both countries have the same position on topics such as supporting the admission of the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU and the European perspective of other states, including Ukraine and Moldova. It is important that they also talk together about the future of Europe, its competitiveness and also about what the EU should look like in relation to enlargement.
He reminded that Portugal and Slovakia are net beneficiaries of the EU budget and belong to the group of so-called Friends of a more ambitious Europe (Friends of Cohesion). According to him, Portugal will be an important partner for Slovakia in the coming months when negotiating the new EU budget, i.e. the multi-year financial framework. Both states have a similar opinion, for example, on maintaining cohesion and matching payments in the field of agriculture.
“I am glad that we have found our partner in Portugal, and I firmly believe that together with other countries that are fighting for similar priorities, we will succeed in implementing all those priorities that are important for both Portugal and Slovakia in the multi-year financial framework of the European Union,” added the President of the Slovak Republic.
NATO and security
During the state visit on behalf of Slovakia, Pellegrini thanked Portugal for its support in protecting the eastern wing of the North Atlantic Alliance. The Slovak president described the participation of Portuguese soldiers in the multinational brigade in Poland as an example of mutual cooperation between the two countries as allies within NATO, Europe and the EU, who can help each other in situations such as the conflict in Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine, unlike in Portugal, due to our location, is located directly beyond the borders of the Slovak Republic and we are directly adjacent to this war,” declared Pellegrini.
On Wednesday afternoon, the President of the Slovak Republic also met with the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, who presented him with the Honorary Key of the City of Lisbon. He was subsequently received by the Speaker of the Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco. In the evening, Pellegrini attends a state dinner at the Ajuda National Palace.
Business forum in Lisbon
The state visit continues with Thursday’s Slovak-Portuguese business forum with the participation of both presidents. There, representatives of Slovak and Portuguese companies and institutions will have the opportunity to discuss the possibilities of further development of economic cooperation, identify new partnerships and present innovative solutions that Slovakia and Portugal can jointly develop.
