Juncker: “Portuguese Budget does not bring up many issues”

  • ECO News
  • 30 October 2017

While visiting Portugal, the President of the European Commission discussed the State Budget with PM António Costa. Juncker will take part in the Council of State.

The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker met the Portuguese prime minister António Costa to have a “bilateral discussion on the issues concerning the European Commission”, namely the 2018 State Budget which, according to Juncker, “does not bring up many issues”.

Juncker was invited to take part on the Council of State held in Lisbon this Monday. The Portuguese State Budget  will be discussed during the meeting — a Budget which, according to Juncker, “does not bring up many issues”, except for “a small one that will be solved by the EC”.

"We will discuss the Portuguese State Budget, which does not bring up many issues, except for a small one that will be solved by the EC. ”

Jean-Claude Juncker

European Commission's President

Juncker also expressed his solidarity towards the families that lost their loved ones and possessions on this Summer’s wildfires, recalling that this disaster also influenced him personally because he lost a fellow Luxembourger in the Pedrógão Grande fires. He further stated that the EC would do “everything to ensure Europe shows its solidarity” — he even criticized Brussels’ lack of speed in helping Portugal with funds.

Jean-Claude Juncker and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in Lisbon. Paula Nunes / ECO

According to the President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Council of State meeting aims to “make a balance and brave and ambitious perspective on Europe”, but also to analyse “the future and the relationship of the European Union with the world, with the European”. The President thanked the European institutional solidarity and assured Juncker’s presence in the Council of State “is very important to the Portuguese who are always pro-Europe and live in it as a place of peace, freedom, democracy and social justice”.