The Portuguese Presidency was marked by the endeavours to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. During the term, Member States agreed to introduce a digital vaccination certificate to travel within the Union and the execution of the recovery mechanism, the Next Generation EU, started. Besides the efforts to promote Europe’s recovery, the Portuguese managed to pass the first EU Climate Law, and poly-makers agreed on the CAP reform. The Presidency had a strong social component, with the Porto Social Summit as one of its milestones.
Between January and June 2021, the EPC teamed up with the Portuguese think tank Nossa Europa and organized policy dialogues on topics such as the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.