Minister Donohoe meets Portuguese Minister for European Affairs as Portugal prepares to exit Troika bailout

The Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, today (Monday) welcomed the Portuguese State Secretary for European Affairs, Bruno Maçães, to Dublin.

The Ministers discussed current key EU issues, including the social and economic situation facing the EU, the upcoming European Parliament elections, the subsequent appointment of a new European Commission and the situation in Ukraine. The Ministers also discussed Ireland’s successful exit from the EU/IMF bailout, as Portugal prepares to also exit its programme later this year.

Minister Donohoe said:
“I was delighted to welcome my colleague and friend, Bruno Maçães, to Dublin today for an excellent discussion of our shared EU agenda. We identified a number of areas in common where we see potential for closer collaboration. For example, in relation to the implementation of the EU’s Atlantic Action Plan, which is key to the development of maritime policy and the ‘blue’ economy in both Ireland and Portugal.

“We welcomed the agreement on the Single Resolution Mechanism in recent days as a crucial building block towards completing banking union and I also took the opportunity to brief Minister Maçães on Ireland’s views on climate change. We discussed Ireland’s successful exit of the EU/IMF bailout and the focus of our efforts now to build on that progress towards a strong and sustainable economy delivering growth and jobs for the future.”

Minister Maçães said:
“It is with immense pleasure to be here in Dublin with Minister Donohoe. It was certainly encouraging to hear about Ireland’s successful bailout exit in greater detail, as we, in Portugal prepare to exit the programme soon. Both countries have undergone very tough times and the Irish and Portuguese peoples’ immense efforts are a testimony to positive recent developments. I can say with conviction that the worst is behind us and we can now look forward to strengthening efforts for economic growth and job creation which is a top priority.

“Ukraine has been a wake-up call for the international community, and especially for Europe. Minister Donohoe and I had a constructive discussion on the future of the EU and our views on the EU’s energy agenda, among other possible initiatives at the bilateral and European level.”