The Diplomat
Portugal’s ambassador to Spain, João Mira-Gomes, said during a reception at his residence that the two countries are ‘the reserve of Europeanism in the European Union’.
João Mira Gomes hosted a reception on Monday to mark the National Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, which was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, together with the Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo; the State Secretary for the European Union, Fernando Sampedro; the Director of the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), Esperanza Casteleiro; and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luis Cuesta.
Also present were various personalities such as the director general of the Civil Guard, Leonardo Marcos; the ambassadors’ introducer, María Sebastián de Erice, together with other diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ildefonso Castro, chief foreign policy advisor to the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Also in attendance were most of the European ambassadors and a large group of ambassadors from other parts of the world, including the Nuncio of His Holiness, dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Monsignor Bernardito Auza, as well as high-ranking Spanish and Portuguese military commanders and businessmen.
Addressing his guests, and after pointing out that this year marks the 500th anniversary of Camões, he recalled that 2024 also marks the 50th anniversary of the 25 April Revolution, and stressed that it is being celebrated jointly with Spain because at the last summit an agreement was signed to jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the democratic transitions: from September of this year until September 2025.
He also recalled that, thanks to the democracy acquired, Spain and Portugal were able to join the European Communities and that on 12 June 2025, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of the two countries will be celebrated. He stressed that Spain and Portugal have benefited greatly from the European Union, but also that the EU has benefited greatly from the accession of the two countries.
In this respect, he pointed out that, although all EU countries are ‘net beneficiaries’, it is true that Spanish and Portuguese contributions have increased, as has been seen with Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Portugal and Spain as exporters of security and defence. On this point, he indicated that it is necessary to have better connections with France.
The ambassador said that ‘together’ Spain and Portugal also defend the importance of the social pillar of the European Union, adding that the two countries are ‘open windows to the world’, particularly to Africa and Ibero-America.
“We defend – said João Mira-Gomes – more Europe in supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s brutal aggression, and we defend more Europe in NATO in the defence of the values of transatlantic democracies. And more Europe in the quest for peace in the Middle East. We have our full support for the rapid release of the hostages, some of whom are Portuguese or Spanish nationals, but we also have our full solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are suffering brutal and disproportionate aggression, which must stop”.
He insisted that Portugal and Spain defend more Europe in all chapters and affirmed that ‘the result of the last European elections in both countries is a clear message that we are the reserve of Europeanism in the European Union’.
The ambassador ended by emphasising that regardless of the political colour in Lisbon or in Madrid, there are always good relations between Portugal and Spain, and said that this ‘was very clear’ in the visit made by the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, to Spain, shortly after taking office, in what was his first bilateral visit abroad. And recalling an old South African proverb, which says ‘if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with someone’, he added: ‘We love to go with Spain’.
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, following on from the Ambassador’s last words, pointed out that we Spaniards also love to go with Portugal, and recalled the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities on 12 June 1985. On that date,’ he said, “two countries that had come from two dictatorships and lived with their backs to each other, met again and began to live together in a common project”.
Luis Planas added that Spain and Portugal share projects, hopes and future and that, since then, relations have become more intense and deeper. The constructive spirit of seeking common solutions to the issues we have,’ he said, ’is a guarantee for the citizens of Portugal and Spain and also for the future of the European Union.
