The Prime Minister of Portugal, H.E. Antonio Costa, addressed the 11th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, held in Porto on 23-24 February 2017.
Prime Minister Costa, in his intervention, highlighted the main value of PAM, which he called ”the parliamentary democracy for open dialogue” on the Mediterranean priority issues. He also referred to the role of PAM in strengthening the region’s confidence in security and development. ”Migration is one of the major challenges of these days, including the security of the area and the free movement of people” Hon. Costa said.
The Central Mediterranean route of refugees to Italy is increasingly of concern despite the decrease in the choice of the Eastern Mediterranean route. Portugal shares international protection responsibilities and is the 5th EU member in providing relocation, fully aware it must go far beyond the crisis directly affecting refugee hosting countries.
Hon. Costa also mentioned the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe based in Lisbon, and which focuses its activities on education. Referring to the initiative of H.E. Jorge Sampaio, the President Emeritus of Portugal and former High Representative of UNAOC, to support Syrian students, Portugal itself hosts more than 100 of them. Hon. Costa invited all Mediterranean countries to join the Group of Friends of this mechanism, of which PAM is already a member, in order to create an emergency response capacity through education and the promotion of deep cultural values aimed at social inclusion and the fight against radicalisation and extremism.
On the margins of the plenary session, Prime Minister Costa also exchanged views with PAM delegates on a number of key issues for the region. One of this referred to the important role played by PAM as the parliamentary dimension of the 5+5 West Mediterranean Group and the recent decision by PAM to expand the parliamentary interest beyond the realm of foreign affairs