Portugal and the United Kingdom boost centuries-old relations

The Prime Ministers of Portugal and the United Kingdom signed a fundamental "joint declaration to boost the bilateral relations of the oldest world alliance, following Brexit" said António Costa during a press statement at the end of the meeting held with Boris Johnson in London.

The document sets the framework for the Luso-British bilateral relations following Brexit and there is a wide range of areas that, due to the fact that Portugal belongs to the European Union, are regulated under the EU-UK relations.

The Prime Minister claimed that "this is the seventh or eighth agreement signed, yet none of the others is as encompassing as this one", which covers the areas of security, crime, defence, foreign policy, cooperation, investment, trade, research, education and the protection of Portuguese citizens residing in the United Kingdom and British citizens residing in Portugal.

Development

The declaration "identifies the strategic areas for development" and is "highly focused on technologies and the investment we need to make together in renewables, energy efficiency, and the digital transition. These are the major challenges we are faced with, and we can do this together", he claimed. 

António Costa noted that in the field of research, highlight is given to "anything that has to do with the oceans, while the United Kingdom will increasingly invest in the AIR Centre", which is located in the Azores and focuses on ocean and climate studies. 

"The fact that "Portugal has such a strong scientific community in the United Kingdom helps to build bridges between our scientific institutions and universities", he added.

Investment

The Prime Minister also noted that "the United Kingdom has been investing in Portugal, benefitting British companies in the sense of having the advantages of Brexit in the United Kingdom and in the European Union, in Portugal".

These companies "have invested mostly in the field of technology – Portugal is the third EU country with the highest rate of engineering graduates, and it’s natural that this talent will attract investment in these areas", he said.

António Costa, who travelled with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, also noted that this boost in the bilateral relations comes "about one month before we celebrate the 650 years of the first treaty signed between Portugal and England, which is still the oldest alliance in the world".