Eduardo Cabrita, Assistant Minister for the Prime Minister of the Government of Portugal, has set out the position of Portugal concerning migration. Portugal is a great example of an emigration country, as showed by studies that indicate “there are up to three times more Portuguese living out of the country, than within our borders”. For this reason, Portugal is aware of the importance of protecting Human Rights and the “basic obligation to provide shelter and protection to those in need”.

In the Portuguese National Assembly “there is not a single member of parliament, let alone political parties, who isn’t in favour of welcoming in Portugal the largest possible number of refugees”. In fact, as highlighted by Mr. Cabrita, “the reason why refugees must be welcomed in our societies is very simple: it is a matter of Justice, of Humanity”.

Contrary to what many people think in Europe, refugees are not a burden, but they are a benefit to our societies and economies. The Portuguese experience demonstrates that welcoming means living together and on an equal basis. “There are over one hundred municipalities that already have shown their willingness to welcome refugees”.

The urgency of assisting refugees does not derive only from the Government but also from the commitment of the civil society: “people were already organizing themselves to provide solutions to the refugee crisis”. Mr. Cabrita final message is that “we should join hands and realize that there is something more important than the concept of nation State, or national citizenship”