Welcome to the page of the Official Visit to Austria

Mister President, Excellency,
Mrs. Margit Fischer,
Distinguished Authorities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am deeply grateful, Mister President, for your kind words, as well as for the warm welcome you have extended to me, my wife, and the delegation that accompany us on this visit.

This visit, Mister President, allows us to celebrate a special friendship with long historical roots.

Over the centuries Princesses of Portugal have ruled in Austria and Austrian princesses have been Queens of Portugal. Thus, strong political ties were forged between two imperial powers which so deeply shaped the historical development of our continent.

This complicity was further strengthened in the last century, when, after World War II, under Caritas’ initiative, thousands of Austrian children were taken in by Portuguese families. Some of them continued to live in Portugal and their current descendants are Portuguese citizens. Others returned to their country of origin.

In all cases, bonds of deep affection were created which still endure. My wife and I had the opportunity to confirm this during a meeting held yesterday in Vienna, with a group that included some of these Austrian citizens.

This closeness between our two countries was equally reflected in the support provided by Austria to the process of the consolidation of democracy in my country. A support we will never forget and for which I want, once more, to offer my grateful thanks.

Without this democratic consolidation, we would not have been here today, as partners of a common destiny within the European Union.

A Union capable of answering the challenges of the current economic, financial and social crisis, of unemployment and social exclusion, of lack of security, of energy and climate change related issues, of economic, scientific and technological competitiveness.

A Union which is able to preserve and reinforce the single market, refusing protectionist pressures, and strengthening economic and social cohesion.

A Union which may stand, more than ever, as a credible actor in the international scene, capable of playing a key role in the promotion of peace, of stability and of economic and social development, as well as in the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

For this to happen, however, it is crucial that the Treaty of Lisbon would soon come into force, so as to provide the European Union with the decisive tools it needs to effectively respond to the challenges ahead.

Mister President,

We are living through difficult times. But we must not resign ourselves. For this is the time to prepare the future.

In the economic field, the convergence of interests between our countries justifies our common ambition for a closer relationship. This is particularly the case in the areas of innovation, of renewable energies, of scientific and technological research and of high technology industries.

Austria has a deep knowledge of the Central and Eastern European markets. Portugal, on the other hand, holds privileged bonds with Africa and Latin America. There is wide room for the establishment of business partnerships aiming for these markets.

Stronger links between peoples also derive from the mutual knowledge of their cultures, their heritage and their languages. I hope that, more than ever, Austrian citizens feel encouraged to visit my country, to get better acquainted with Portuguese culture and to learn Portuguese, a language spoken by 250 million people and the third most spoken European language in the world.

Portugal is well aware of and appreciates the natural beauty and the many examples of artistic splendour that Austria displays.

The harmony and richness of Salzburg’s historical heritage, which I am much pleased to enjoy again, just as the outstanding quality of its Festival, clearly illustrate what I have just said. It will be with great honour and satisfaction that my wife and I will attend, tomorrow, as your guests, the opening of the Salzburg Festival.

Mister President,

I started by pointing out that this visit of mine was an opportunity to celebrate a relation of friendship with deep historical roots. It is both inspired by our historical affinity and confident that we will know how to use it as a guarantee for the future, that I ask you all to join me in a toast to the health of President Heinz Fischer and Mrs. Margit Fischer, to the friendly People of Austria and to the prospering of relations between our two Countries.