Portugal “doing everything” to ensure safe reception of Ukrainians
ANDIn statements at the entrance to an extraordinary meeting of EU Home Affairs ministers, convened to challenge the situation in Ukraine, Patrícia Gaspar, who represents Portugal, began “to reaffirm that which is Portugal’s position, of complete solidarity with what is being to happen with the Ukrainian people examples” and underlined that the country continues in the “good” line that it has given in terms of solidarity in the reception of refugees.
“We are here today to debate a series of issues, which are mainly relevant to the area of Internal Administration, regarding the possible reception of Ukrainian citizens who mainly want to come to Portugal. which is being done in line with other countries. And to that extent, today is indeed an important meeting”, he said.
A common ruler that the 27 will “also discuss various issues related to border management, the Schengen area, which is also a relevant matter”.
“And, therefore, we are doing everything to ensure that all citizens who wish to come to Portugal can do so under conditions of security, with possible integration. We are a country that has set good examples in this matter and, therefore, it is along this line that we want to continue”, declared the State Prosecutor, at the entrance to the meeting.
At the end of the extraordinary summit of EU leaders held last Thursday, and in the early hours of Friday, the Prime Minister, António Costa, revealed that Portugal is identifying opportunities for specific posts for Ukrainian ministers, and said he hoped that the EU does not repeat the mistakes of past human crises.
Underlining that Portugal reaffirmed its total readiness to “share with all other Member States” the “obligation to guarantee international protection to all”, the Prime Minister reminded everyone that, “in the specific case of Ukrainians, Portugal has an experience very positive with the extraordinary, almost Ukrainian community that for almost 20 reside” in the country.
“The Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition [Pedro Siza Vieira] and the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security [Ana Mendes Godinho] Contacts were established with a wide range of companies to identify specific job opportunities”, he revealed.
In this way, there are other conditions, Portugal is in different conditions, through the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, “to be able to provide the data for the professional profile suitable for the job opportunities, which at this moment, fortunately in Portugal and which are fundamental , by the way, for a retreat from the Portuguese economy”.
Concerning refugees, António Costa said that Portugal, as he defended in the past, “defends itself in relation to other refugees, which must be in order to protect the other Member States from solidarity, which all Member States must make available and that , due to their geographical proximity, as they have a common border, they will naturally be the first to be requested in international protection”, adding that, “in this specific case, it will most likely be Poland”.
As for Portugal, he reiterated that “the immediate granting of visas will be ensured for all those who are family, friends or acquaintances of residents in Portugal and who want to go live in Portugal”, having already been “given instructions to that effect” to consular officers and embassies “both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries”.
According to the EU Council, in today’s extraordinary meeting at the level of Ministers of Home Affairs, the 27 “will specifically focus on humanitarian support to Ukraine, the reception of refugees, the management of external borders and the challenges of security-related measures, visa measures and the response to hybrid threats”.
Russia launched a series of military strikes on Thursday from a military explosion on Thursday with uproar in cities, including civilians and more than 100 wounded, in Ukrainian territory, Kiev. The UN reported nearly 370,000 displaced people to Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.
Russian President Putin said that “Vladimir’s special military operation” in Ukraine was the only way for Russia to defend itself, the Kremlin it needs will last as long as necessary.
The attack was condemned by the international community and prompted the emergency meeting of several governments, including the Northern Organization against the UN, EU and UN-approved International Security Council, having been massively approved by Russia.
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