Spain and Portugal open their borders

USPA NEWS - The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, attended on Wednesday the Spain-Portugal Meeting in the border cities of Badajoz (Spain) and Elvas (Portugal) to symbolise the lifting of border controls between this two countries that have been in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was attended by the King Felipe VI of Spain, the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, António Costa.

At the event, which was organised in conjunction with the Portuguese Government, the Heads of State and Government of Spain and Portugal expressed the strong harmony that exists between the two countries, which are both "neighbours and friends." The fluid cross-border relations between Spain and Portugal are clearly reflected by the adoption of joint measures to deal with the pandemic. These relations share such challenges as depopulation, the climate emergency, energy and transport interconnections and the EU agenda, on which dialogue is permanent.

Spain is Portugal's main economic and trading partner, with which Spain also shares common ground in terms of such priority issues as finance and migration and such overseas issues as the Ibero-American agenda. The topics of interest at this time include the energy transition and economic decarbonisation aimed at meeting the ambitious targets for the Energy Union in 2030.

During the course of the meeting, the authorities visited the Alcazaba Archaeology Museum in Badajoz and Elvas Castle in Portugal, located a mere 20 kilometres apart in the respective national territories.