Portugal appoints Maria Luís Albuquerque to the European Commission

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced that the European Commissioner appointed by Portugal will be Maria Luís Albuquerque during a statement made from the official residence in Lisbon.

Luís Montenegro claimed the Government put forward Maria Luís Albuquerque’s name to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen "to join the new college of European Commissioners on behalf of Portugal."

Maria Luís Albuquerque "is a figure with renowned academic, professional, political, and civic merit. Among other tasks, she has been a university lecturer, Secretary of State for the Tresasury, Minister of State and Finance, Member of Parliament, and other posts in the public, private, and social sectors", he said.

She has accumulated "vast and interesting experience over several years in various institutions and with leaders thereof. She therefore holds extraordinary qualities and skills, which will surely enrich the European Commission and bring prestige to Portugal", he added.

New cycle

Maria Luís Albuquerque skills and capabilities "will be above all at the service of the Europeans at a time we are entering a new Union cycle geared towards stimulating the internal market, the European economy’s competitiveness, and the definition of a new multiannual financial framework."

At a time when there are "major challenges in the fields of security and defence, as well as new EU enlargement horizons, it is important for each Member State to make available the best they have to work for the sake of all the European people", he remarked.

The Prime Minister also noted that Maria Luís Albuquerque honours this profile and that "due to the direct and personal knowledge" he has "of her capabilities", "she will honour Portugal", and deposits in her "the utmost trust and hope that we, the Portuguese, will once again be a people and nation that leverages European reformism and ambition".

Luís Montenegro added that in this way, the European Union will be "the space in the world with the highest well-being and quality of life, respect for the rule of law and democracy, and a social state and safeguard of each human being’s dignity."