Strasbourg, France, Sept. 30, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese President argued on Wednesday that Europe «should not be a fortress», but rather a space capable of «engaging in dialogue with everyone», which knows what it stands for and has a «voice of its own» in the current international context.
In a speech at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, António José Seguro argued that it is a priority to «build a Europe that is open to the world», citing the example of Portugal, which «has never been a country closed in on itself» and whose history, geography and «Atlantic vocation» have taught it «to look beyond European borders».
«Europe must not be a fortress. It must be a space of freedom, dialogue and cooperation, open to the world, yet always true to its principles,» he argued.
He considered that, «at a time of geopolitical tensions, disinformation and growing fragmentation», there is a need for «more dialogue, not less dialogue; more cooperation, not isolation».
«A strong Europe is not a Europe that closes itself off. It is a Europe that knows what it stands for, that has a voice of its own and that is capable of engaging in dialogue with everyone. The world needs to hear Europe's firm voice once again,» he maintained.
Insisting that today's «major challenges» «cannot be resolved in isolation» nor through «nostalgia, fear or the abandonment of the principles» developed after the Second World War, Seguro argued that «peace, security, climate change, migration, technological transformation and the defence of human rights require international cooperation».
«A Europe that engages in dialogue with the world is a Europe that strengthens its ability to contribute to peace», he stated.
He also addressed the challenges currently posed by artificial intelligence, which he described as one of the «major transformations» of our time, capable of «improving people's lives, advancing science and creating new opportunities», but which also «poses risks to human rights, democracy and the rule of law».
In this regard, Seguro argued that «innovation cannot come at the expense of responsibility, efficiency cannot justify a lack of transparency» and «technological progress cannot reduce human beings to mere tools».
«We need transparency, oversight and accountability. We need rules that protect citizens and institutions capable of ensuring compliance. Technology must serve people, not people serve technology,» he argued, at a time when calls for greater regulation of artificial intelligence systems have been mounting.
In this speech, Seguro also addressed the war in Ukraine, suggesting that he agrees with the Council of Europe's decision to suspend Russia from the organisation, one day after the war began, on 24 February 2022.
«The Council of Europe has taken an unequivocal stance, in line with its founding values. State sovereignty, territorial integrity and the prohibition of the use of illegitimate force are not optional principles. They are the foundations of peace and international security,» he stated.
For him, «supporting Ukraine is a duty of solidarity towards the Ukrainian people» and also means «defending Europe's security and the credibility of the principles on which it is based».
«We want peace. But we want a just and lasting peace, one that respects international law and Ukraine's sovereignty. It is urgent to put an end to the human suffering caused by the war. A ceasefire is urgently needed», he argued.
Seguro was invited to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to mark the 50th anniversary of Portugal's accession to the organisation on 22 September 1976.
TA/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
