The president of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, had a two-hour meeting with the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, at the headquarters of the Portuguese Socialist Party in Lisbon.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, with economic issues, addressing price increases in energy with active policies that protect citizens from the speculation of energy markets, the social housing program already implemented by Portugal, as well as the new geopolitical data created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Nikos Androulakis pointed out the government’s reluctance to tax the super profits of energy companies but also to take immediate emergency measures such as reducing VAT on basic goods despite the oversupply of state revenues in the months of high inflation.
For his part, the Portuguese Prime Minister informed the PASOK president that on a weekly basis in his country the overpayments of VAT in the state coffers are calculatedwhich are then returned to consumers through corresponding reductions in the excise duty on fuel.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of energy interconnections as well as the high share of Renewable Energy Sources in electricity generation (currently in Portugal exceeds 60%), a fact which the Iberian countries took advantage of at the recent Summit, ensuring the exceptional possibility of emergency national measures to protect family budgets.
The two men agreed on the importance of the Social Democratic Forces playing a leading role and strengthening their presence in the European institutions, in order to promote more commonly the common foreign policy, defense and security and the common financial tools for tackling inequalities, the energy crisis and development. .
Mr. Costa invited Nikos Androulakis to the events planned next year on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Portuguese Socialist Party.
In a statement after the meeting with Antonio Costas, Nikos Androulakis stated:
“We met with Prime Minister Antonio Costa at a very critical time for the future of the European Union, with the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and, of course, the growing inequalities.
I believe that the ideas of social democracy are useful ideas, so that we have policies of solidarity. Policies that will be designed so that at this time, Europe has a common defense and security and common financial tools to deal with the energy crisis, which undermines the future of Europe’s most vulnerable citizens, but also Europe’s economy and competitiveness.
That’s why we all need to do more together, to have a better common future.
Many thanks to Prime Minister Costa for the hospitality and discussion we had and of course, the Ministers, who will discuss important issues for the recovery fund and especially issues concerning the new generations, the demographic, such as social housing. “A political choice by the Portuguese government to support young couples through 26,000 homes, which can be rented for a very low price, so that young people can build a better future for themselves and their children.”
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