Two day visit, starting tomorrow, focused on bilateral agreements and “deepening of relations”
Days since his diplomacy in the White House was splashed over the world’s television networks, France’s president Emmanuel Macron will be in Lisbon and Porto. The purpose of his two-day visit, starting tomorrow, is to sign a set of political, economic and cultural agreements between the two republics, and to discuss security and defence with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
A statement put out by Lisbon City Council says Mr Macron will visit the Unicorn Factory Lisboa where he will take part in a debate with mayor Carlos Moedas.
This particular pit-stop appears to be designed to address “current challenges related to artificial intelligence, the impact of technology on democracy, and the competitiveness of the European Union against the US and China”.
Lisbon City Council’s statement refers to the Unicorn Factory being “the largest technology business incubator in the country. The project launched in 2022 by Carlos Moedas has already welcomed more than 700 startups, launched 5 new innovation centres in Lisbon and brought 14 ‘unicorn’ (large-scale) companies to the city.”
But the more serious side of this visit will take place more than likely behind closed doors with the prime minister, and is expected to centre on “questions that worry Europe in terms of security and defence”, says Diário de Notícias.
It could easily be that Mr Macron will be nudging his Portuguese counterpart to be a little more ambitious in his roadmap for reaching the (now insufficient) level of 2% of GDP spending on defence… What is clear is that the plan for the French president to address parliament has been ditched, and instead there will be a ‘solemn session and exchange of views’”’ with the parliamentary speaker, and “several presidents of the Portuguese political groups”.
This is the first official state visit of a French president to Portugal in 26 years – and as such around 12 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, including one of “friendship, Franco-Portuguese cooperation and a letter of understanding in the sphere of armaments”, according to an official source.
With regard to the latter “in the context of the Ukraine conflict”, it will be part of a general effort towards the “strengthening of the European industrial base” and aims to “confirm an intention and an agreement already announced for the purchase of up to 36 Caesar (artillery systems) by the Portuguese” and also to “formalise cooperation in other industrial sub-cooperations, particularly in the field of drones”, the same source tells DN.
Among the bilateral agreements – cultural, scientific, and for technical cooperation – there will also be a police cooperation agreement, a film co-production agreement and an action plan for higher education, science and innovation.
Source material: SIC/ Lusa/ Diário de Notícias
