The Diplomat
Spain and Portugal yesterday prepared the Social Summit that the European Union will hold in Oporto next May, in a videoconference meeting between the State Secretary for the EU, Juan González-Barba, and the Portuguese State Secretary for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarías.
The Summit will take place on 7 May and will be the high point of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will be devoted to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its importance in the post-Covid recovery. Spain and Portugal are two of the most active Member States in the defence of social issues at European level, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
González-Barba and Zacarías addressed the role to be played by the Action Plan for the implementation of the Social Pillar, recently published by the Commission, as well as the importance of involving social actors in its discussion during the Summit, the statement said.
The Plan, which sets out a series of social objectives for 2030, is expected to be endorsed by both Heads of State and Government and social actors during the Porto meeting.
In addition, González-Barba discussed with his Portuguese colleague the imminent launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe, in the framework of which Spain will participate in its Executive Council.
The State Secretary also informed her of the initiatives that Spain is working on with a view to the Conference in the areas of European citizenship, sport, the participation of cities and regions in European governance and the development of regions facing specific difficulties, such as insularity or the demographic challenge.
