The EC President appeared to have forgotten Portugal’s location as the most western geographical point on mainland Europe when he told MEPs: “Equality between its Members, big and small, East and West, North and South. Make no mistake, Europe extends from Vigo to Varna. From Spain to Bulgaria.
East to West: Europe must breathe with both lungs. Otherwise our continent will struggle for air.”
Portuguese MEP Marisa Matias did not take kindly to the words contained in Juncker’s written speech.
In posts on both Twitter and Facebook, which have since been abundantly shared and commented on, the Left Bloc MEP asked: “Europe stretches from Spain to Bulgaria. Does this mean that he has already assumed we are out?”
But despite his speech not going down well in some quarters here in Portugal, both the President and the Prime Minister congratulated the EC chief on his address.
Prime Minister António Costa tweeted: “Congratulations. Portugal, a nation of navigators is ready to help Europe sail in the right direction in the future.”
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in an official statement, said: “Allow me to congratulate him [Juncker] on his speech of the State of the Nation. I also believe the winds have once again started blowing into our sails and we should seize them to build a unified, strong and democratic Europe.”
Despite these comments of support, Jean Claude Juncker might not be the most popular politician among ordinary Portuguese. Many will recall him stating last year that France was being subjected to different treatment than Portugal over its budget deficit, because in Juncker’s words, “it’s France.”
Another European politician not too popular in Portugal in recent times is Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the chairman of Eurogroup.
The Dutch Finance Minister came under fire last summer after an interview in a German newspaper, in which he accused Southern European countries of wasting money on “women and drinks”.
Portugal at the time called for the Dutch Finance Minister to stand down and said he was completely out of tune with reality.
Dijsselbloem has to this date refused to apologise, and has stood by his comments that countries like Portugal should “also have duties and can’t spend their money on women and drinks and then ask for help.”
Portugal’s Prime Minister, António Costa, subsequently called for Jereon Dijsselbloem to resign and said his comments in a newspaper interview about southern European countries were “absolutely unacceptable” and “very dangerous”.
Portugal anger over Juncker ‘lapse’
in News · 14 Sep 2017, 14:15 · 4 Comments
I don't see how "women and drinks" is wasting money. Life should not be all work, work, work.
Although it should say "women, men and drinks"
By Simon Topp from UK on 15 Sep 2017, 10:45
I'm sure that our Irish friends would also have something to say about Spain being the most westerly part of Europe. There has been lots of friendly banter over the years about whether Portugal or Ireland can claim to have Europe's westernmost point. (Except the Açores and other islands scattered across the globe)
Either way, Juncker has got it wrong.
By Stuart Middleton from UK on 15 Sep 2017, 10:52
Lets face it, Portugal has a weak economy , low gdp, extremely high unemployment, serious corruption and honesty issues. Yes, everything seems to be improving, but not as fast as it could and should. The official reaction on mr Dijsselbliems remarks clearly was intended to secure that job for a Portuguese candidate. The social media remarks for mr Juncker are totally unnecessary. Mr Juncker is a social servant, not a politician and has said far more relevant things in his speech , which are a lot more important than a politicians hurt feelings. A childish and stupid action in my opinion.
By Peter Paul from Other on 15 Sep 2017, 14:59
I believe most people forgot Portugal starts in the middle of the Atlantic ocean (read about Azores before trying to excuse politicians).
By the comments we still don't have a EU... we have a bulk of countries in the same region each one trying to get the most of it. From the top down to the beggars.
By ALEX from Lisbon on 19 Sep 2017, 08:09