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Portugal's presidency of the Council of the European Union
From 1 January to 30 June 2021, Portugal held the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Together with Germnay and Slovenia they form the current “Trio Presidency” with a joint programme.
The priorities of Portugal's presidency are driven by its motto: “Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital recovery”.
The presidency programme focuses on five main areas:
- strengthen Europe’s resilience
- promote confidence in the European social model
- promote a sustainable recovery
- speed up a fair and inclusive digital transition
- reaffirm the EU’s role in the world, ensuring that this is based on openness and multilateralism.
The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU will focus on bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. It will promote a vision of the EU that is innovative, looks to the future and is based on common values of solidarity, convergence and cohesion.
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The tasks of the presidency
The presidency is responsible for driving forward the Council's work on EU legislation, ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda, orderly legislative processes and cooperation among member states. To do this, the presidency must act as an honest and neutral broker.
The presidency has two main tasks:
1. Planing and chairing meetings in the Council and its preparatory bodies.
2. Representing the Council in relations with the other EU institutions.
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Your Voice in Europe
Have your say in debates on the European Union and its future.
The European Commission provides a wide variety of consultations, discussions and other tools which enable you to play an active role in the European policy-making process.
Consultations: give your opinion on EU policies and influence their direction.
Free movement of workers
Free movement of workers is a fundamental principle of the Treaty enshrined in Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and developed by EU secondary legislation and the Case law of the Court of Justice.
Picture workers: © European Commission 2014
Nobel Peace Prize 2012 awarded to European Union
In 2012 the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.
The EU decided to dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to children who are denied the chance of growing up in peace and to double the Nobel award (€930,000), to €2 million. As a result, more than 28,000 children have so far benefited from the four emergency-education projects selected last year.
As a lasting political legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize, and as a targeted tool for education in conflict zones, the EU will continue this initiative in the years to come. For 2013, the EU has again doubled the resources and attributed a further €4 million to cover both the existing and new projects.
112 emergency number
Need help? 112 is your life-saving number!
112 is the European emergency phone number, available everywhere in the EU, free of charge.
It is possible to call 112 from fixed and mobile phones to contact any emergency service: an ambulance, the fire brigade or the police.
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Treaty of Lisbon
On 1 December 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, thus ending several years of negotiation about institutional issues.
The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It provides the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.
The Treaty at a glance, questions and answers, key documents etc.
Picture workers: © European Commission 2014
Logo of the EU Council and the Austrian presidency © Bundeskanzleramt Österreich 2018