Portugal Faces Bold and Ambitious Agenda at the Start of its EU Presidency

In early July, Portugal took over the rotating EU Presidency. As part of a unique 18-month program that aims to focus three EU presidencies on a common set of goals and themes, Portugal inherited a lengthy and challenging policy agenda from an exceptionally active German presidency. At the top of that agenda are the continued efforts to finalize the reform treaty. However, Portugal has also added its own list of priorities to that agenda, which suggests that the second half of 2007 will be as intense for the EU as the first. In addition to broader EU and Portuguese goals, a number of foreign policy issues will require the attention and strong leadership of the Portuguese presidency.