Jorge Sampaio says that agreements at any price clear and discredit the European Union

Former President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio said Monday in Coimbra that "agreements at any cost" deprive the European Union (EU) of its electorate and discredit it with its international partners

"Under the conclusion of agreements at any price, the EU empties itself in front of the electorate and discredits itself in front of its international partners," in addition to accumulate contradictions and problems reported ", said Jorge Sampaio, during his speech on

With the end of the mandate of the European Commission presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker (2014-2019) and the elections to the European Parliament (2019), with" a Franco-British motor -German, who can be condemned to be able to walk only in the third "and with" a growing group of countries led by populist governments "(in an international context of" enormous uncertainty "), the EU can fail, "he warned.

" He is at fault that the European framework that has so far been a guarantor of peace and stability is starting to fail in its role in the near future, "he declared

. for Syrian students, "right now", the EU is "a source of concern" and produces "more questions than answers."

It is equally important, beyond the political level, "not only (such as the Brexit or the future multiannual financial framework), but also" key issues "such as the reform of the euro area banking union, the development of own budget capacity and, on another level, "migration and refugees", he warns.As for migration and refugees, Jorge Sampaio highlights the "notorious" incapacity and persistent "EU to find" a common solution, based on the principles and values ​​"that define it

" We should invest in the deepening of we want to Europe, but also look at the other side of the mirror and, inspired by the famous installation of John F. Kennedy, we wonder what we can do for Europe, "summarizes Jorge Sampaio, President of the Republic between 1996 and 2006.

Europe continues to be "ento Urea of ​​an arc of instability "and the EU is facing" heavy records "that will once again test its ability to overcome differences and" affirm values ​​and interests "
The international situation ", concludes Jorge Sampaio," is more unfavorable than favorable in the near future to a prevailing economic situation, "especially in the field of (1990-95) and former leader of the PS (1989 -1992) made argue that higher education, in its dual aspect (university and polytechnic), a crucial role to play "in the qualification of young people, in the improvement of democracy, in the transformation of the economy , in the requalification of the territory and the role of the state, and in "building bridges" with the rest of the world. always "by institutions of higher education and the academic community and" Portuguese society must be aware that its future fundamentally depends on education "and that the development of the country requires" more and better l & # 39; higher education, training and research "