“Our concerns are: cohesion policy, common agricultural policy, outermost regions,” commented Paulo Rangel during the parliamentary hearing on the 2026 State Budget.
“We are very attentive, we are not satisfied,” said the official, noting that countries supporting cohesion advocate changes.
Additionally, Lisbon sees the European Parliament as “an ally,” as the institution’s response to the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework proposal aligns “closely with the concerns” of the Portuguese state.
“We will have an unyielding fight until the end to make the proposal from the European Commission fairer and more balanced,” stated Paulo Rangel.
The long-term European Union (EU) budget proposal until 2034, known in July, anticipates two trillion euros, surpassing the 1.2 trillion of the current framework, including more national contributions and new taxes.
For Rangel, the proposed competitiveness fund “is very interesting,” but “it may put Portuguese companies at a disadvantage.”
The proposal concerning the outermost regions is also viewed as “frankly negative.”
During the parliamentary hearing, the Secretary of State for European Affairs announced the creation of the national expert status, aiming to strengthen Portuguese presence in European and international institutions.
“The objective of strengthening the Portuguese presence in institutions surpasses mere accounting, contributing to an axis of foreign policy that is the defense of multilateralism,” stated Inês Domingos, who accompanied the Foreign Minister today during the parliamentary hearing on the 2026 State Budget.
The status was approved today by the Council of Ministers, she noted.
To increase Portuguese representation, the government has already bolstered scholarships for European higher education institutions and the centralized provision for seconded national experts, mentioned the Secretary of State, responding to a question from PSD deputy Paulo Moniz.
