Lisbon.
The prime minister said Tuesday that “the country is open arms” to welcome migrants who want to return, noting that the Government is developing various incentive measures including a specific line of credit .
António Costa spoke in São Bento, before a meeting with the 16 councilors that make up the three thematic commissions of the Council of Portuguese Communities (CCP), and stressed that in Portugal “there are opportunities” for those who want to invest and work and that the Government has programs to support the return of migrants.
Among these, he highlighted the change in the IRS regime for emigrants , the creation of a special credit line for emigrants wishing to start their own business and the special tax regime for non-habitual residents.
“We want to convey that the country is open arms. For the first time, for many years now we are once again growing above the European average, unemployment has fallen sharply and entrepreneurs say there is a huge shortage of people to work for, “he continued.
Costa also praised the way in which the Portuguese in the world represent Portugal and the participation of the communities in the diaspora in the countries where they live, also underlining the need to strengthen Portuguese citizenship and the link with Portugal.
In this context, he underlined “important steps” given by the Government to extend the criteria for access to Portuguese nationality to the second and third generations, amendments to the electoral law that allow citizens with dual nationality to apply to the Assembly of the Republic, and the census automatic that will increase the number of Portuguese who are entitled to participate in the elections from just over 300 thousand to one million and 150 thousand. “It’s a great reinforcement of citizenship ties,” the prime minister said.
Costa also left “special words” to the Venezuelan representatives because of the “very difficult phase they are living”, expressing “great solidarity” and ensuring that the Portuguese who have returned “have found good conditions”, both in Madeira and in Portugal Continental.
“We are here in solidarity, first of all to support what is a priority, which is the right to live where they have chosen to live by guaranteeing physical and material security and protection of the goods they have built throughout life, but also the conditions to welcome all those who understand that the time has come to continue their life in Portugal, “he said.
Brazil’s Councilor and current Chair of the CPC’s Permanent Council, Flávio Martins, said that it is important to “give voice to communities” and realize their importance and specificity by asking that Portugal “look to communities not only to contribute and improve their needs “But also to realize their potential by calling for a” frank dialogue “.
Flávio Martins also said that. although the CCP is not a partisan group, the councilors are political actors. The Council of Portuguese Communities is a governmental advisory body for emigration issues and has 65 members.
It is composed of citizens residing abroad and is divided into three Thematic Commissions (Social, Economic and Migration Flows, Portuguese Teaching Abroad, Culture, Associativism and Social Communication, Consular Issues and Civic and Political Participation) and regional councils.
