Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos visits Portugal (24-26 October 2018)

Alternate Foreign Minister, George Katrougalos and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for International Economic Relations, Eurico Brilhante Dias, signed a memorandum of economic cooperation between Greece and Portugal in Lisbon. Mr. Katrougalos also met with the Secretary of State of European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarias. During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest, such as the drafting of the new EU budget and the question of Brexit.

The economic memorandum provides for cooperation between the two countries in tackling unemployment, mainly among young people, by strengthening entrepreneurship. Cooperation is also provided for in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, shipping, transport, communications, renewable energy sources, and tourism. The Memorandum makes special reference to the combating of tax evasion and corruption, with the parallel introduction in Greece of the electronic invoice, which is being successfully implemented in Portugal. It has also been agreed to extend cooperation in areas such as high and digital technology as well as medical tourism.

The two sides have also agreed to contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between enterprises so as to enable Greek enterprises to gain access to the countries of Africa and Latin America, while providing Portuguese enterprises access to the countries of South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans, as well as Arab countries. In this context, an electronic platform will be created where Greek and Portuguese businesses will be able to offer and seek products and services.

It was agreed that Business Forums would be organized in Athens and Lisbon, in 2019, by the co-competent agencies, with the support of the governments.

Within the framework of “meetings with the citizens”, the Alternate Foreign Minister delivered a speech at an event hosted by the University of Aveiro entitled “Europe, the Euro and the Crisis, What is our future” and another one at the University of Porto entitled “The Future of Europe”.

In Porto, Mr. Katrougalos met with the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Nuno Botelho, and the Director General of the Chamber of Commerce, Angelino Ferreira, while he also visited the Serralves Foundation.