On Wednesday, Transparency International (TI) Portugal criticized the “fast track” for public procurement in Defense announced the previous day by Nuno Melo, citing a “potential weakening of transparency, integrity, and accountability mechanisms.”
TI Portugal, led by Margarida Mano, argues that the announcement to create a team between the ministries of Defense and Economy for this “fast track” raises “serious concerns about the potential weakening of transparency, integrity, and accountability mechanisms in this sector.”
Today in Guimarães, Braga district, following the signing of rehabilitation protocols for the Padrão D. João I and the Church of Santa Marinha da Costa Monastery, Nuno Melo refuted the accusations. He explained that the “fast track” for public procurement in Defense aims at “legislative simplification” and “de-bureaucratization.”
“Always with transparency and control mechanisms as a preliminary note. At no point is there any intention to reduce transparency and control; quite the contrary, potentially even reinforcing this transparency and control, but removing bureaucratic barriers,” stated the Defense Minister to journalists.
Nuno Melo urged Transparency International to speak “about concrete facts” and detailed his idea of the “fast track” in Defense.
“Assumption: transparency and control. Objective: simplification and ensuring that Portuguese companies are not left behind and, in these new times, have opportunities and assist the Portuguese Armed Forces. Ensure that, in the end, Portuguese companies are capable of seizing Defense opportunities,” explained the minister.
Nuno Melo emphasized that “Portugal produces some of the best in the world,” which is why he wants to “ensure that in this production and sales chain Portuguese companies have an opportunity.”
For the National Defense Minister, the positions taken by the U.S. administration, led by Donald Trump, regarding NATO’s role, demonstrate “that the European pillar of Defense within NATO should be decisively reinforced.”
“If there is a lesson to take from the U.S. administration’s stance on NATO’s role, it is that the European defense pillar of NATO should be decisively reinforced. Reinforcing NATO’s European defense pillar means producing much more in Europe, but also buying much more in Europe,” he emphasized.
In this sense, Nuno Melo reiterates that “Portugal cannot lag behind the other European NATO countries.”
“The State must ensure that Portuguese companies have opportunities and assist the Armed Forces in this decisive step, considering the future and the demands of our missions,” stressed the official.
