ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE

The Government's strategic foreign policy objective is to promote more active involvement by Portugal in the international fora and to provide an image of a strong, modern country self-confident of its identity and capabilities.

Main objectives

• To contribute to a more dynamic international order, built on multilateralism, and committed to resolving international threats (poverty, disease, environmental issues, human rights violations , war, terrorism, organized crime);
• To defend the UN Charter as the conductor for international relations;
• To uphold UN reforms, especially regarding the Security Council and peace operations;
• To be dedicated to drawing up and perfecting international law, particularly with regard to the Kyoto Agreement, the International Court of Justice and the World Trade Organization.

EUROPEAN UNION

Main objectives

• To consolidate the European integration agenda with the effective involvement of the civil society;
• To increase the European Union’s contribution to world peace and security;
• To sponsor the strengthening of relations between the EU and the USA and strengthen relations with South American countries and MERCOSUL;
• To bring about the common space of freedom, justice and security;
• To put forward the Lisbon Strategy in order to ensure the European social model of high environmental standards and a competitive knowledge-based economy ;
• To rethink the Stability and Growth Pact in order to make it a more efficient and useful tool;
• To launch the debate on an European Oceans and Seas Policy.

ECONOMIC INTERNATIONALIZATION

Main objectives

• To continue the process of economic integration in both the European and the global markets;
• To provide proper political support in order to encourage the internationalization of Portuguese companies;
• To reform legal, taxation and bureaucratic procedures in order to attract foreign investment;
• To encourage cooperation between the public and private sectors;
• To promote Portugal at international level;

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

Main objectives

• To play a more active role in the preparations for a global agenda that includes reform of the UN and development aid, especially in Africa, Asia and South America, as crucial aspects for peace and security in the world;
• To adopt active multilateralism and reinforce participation within the EU, UN and Bretton Woods;
• To closely follow events regarding development aid financing, application of the Kyoto Agreement, international trade and the “development round”, and reduction of the debt of the less developed countries;
• To take part in peace-keeping operations, humanitarian aid and other operations under UN mandates and in accordance with Portugal’s international commitments to the EU, OSCE and NATO;
• To adapt and equip the armed forces and security forces in order to efficiently respond to the demands of peace-keeping operations and when dealing with humanitarian crises;
• To pursue a Foreign European Policy compatible with the strategic transatlantic partnerships;

DEVELOPMENT AID

Main objectives

• To foster development aid and reinforce the international commitment, especially with regard to the UN Millennium Goals;
• To emphasize the importance of multilateralism for better development aid;
• To enhance Portuguese economic and trade relations with the least developed countries;
• To strengthen political and diplomatic relations with the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) and to sponsor inclusion of private companies in Portuguese bilateral development aid with these countries.

CULTURAL FOREIGN POLICY

Main objectives

• To promote, with the help of the other members of the CPLP, the use of Portuguese as an International Language in all fora;
• To provide teaching of Portuguese Language and Culture to second and third generation Portuguese emigrants abroad;
• To endorse the use of information and communication technologies to simplify teaching Portuguese;
• To increase the promotion of Portuguese culture abroad, especially in literature, arts and science;
• To encourage systematic translation of Portuguese authors into English.

PORTUGUESE COMMUNITIES

Main objectives

• To continually increase the support provided to Portuguese communities abroad and to help their integration;
• To encourage partnerships and networks between Portuguese emigrant entrepreneurs and national enterprises;
• To optimize the Portuguese diplomatic network in order to serve the Portuguese communities better;
• To encourage improvement of the national broadcasting service abroad (RTP-International);
• To simplify greater operability and representation of the Portuguese Communities Council, while maintaining its consultative nature.