"The government has over the last few days, since last week, had contact and work meetings with local authorities, civil society associations, social welfare institutions and religious institutions also links to social support and reception, with a view to promoting all national synergies to prepare to welcome the refugees, in an action of solidarity and humanitarian aid in Portugal wants to be in the front line," the cabinet office minister, Luís Marques Guedes.


Speaking at a news conference after the day's weekly cabinet meeting, the minister noted that a meeting of European Union officials to discuss "the European response to give to the refugee problem" is planned for Monday.


"Portugal will accompany, with the maximum of solidarity, whatever is the decision of the European institutions and we're already working at a national level both with public authorities and with local authorities and civil society with a view to preparing as best we can the mechanisms to welcome these refugees," he said.


According to plans unveiled on Wednesday by the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, Portugal is to receive 3,074 refugee as part of a re-allocation of more than 120,000. Of the Portuguese total, 1,383 are refugees already in Hungary, 1,291 in Greece and 400 in Italy.