Portugal and Spain united at Iberian summit:

He governments of Portugal and Spain took advantage of the 26th Iberian Summit to express their shared positions on issues ranging from Europe through to the need to continuing with the economic restructuring processes.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, speaking at the press conference held subsequent to talks, stressed the close positions on Europe before stating the European Union “can and should do more and demonstrate the same performance as those shown by national governments.”
Rajoy added that he would be “intensifying contacts” with his Portuguese counterpart “to align positions and propose new measures to be taken in forthcoming months” by the European Union.
In turn, the Portuguese Prime Minister drew attention to the issue of unemployment.
“Unemployment dramatically affects our two countries and, taking youth unemployment into consideration, we may say this is a true tragedy afflicting our two countries,” said the Social Democrat leader.
The prime minister also announced that the two countries would also be “intensifying the exchange of opinions and experiences of best practices in this field and especially those programme s able to combat unemployment.”
Both countries also made positive reference to their peer’s efforts to reform and readjust their economies – conditions they agreed were essential to restoring confidence.
The event served as the opportunity to sign agreements on a range of different issues and as detailed in the 26th summit’s final declaration.
In addition to formally calling for European Union reform and advancing with banking union plans alongside more action to stimulate growth and employment, they ranged from a commitment to the full exchange of information and the adoption of joint policies for fighting fiscal fraud and tax evasion, through to reform of the fisheries sector and better managing cross-border water resources.
Finally, the two sides agreed to push ahead with plans for a European gauge cargo line linking Lisbon-Sines-Caja-Madrid-Irun with a meeting due on May 17 to discuss the best means of implementing this Iberian Peninsula infrastructural connection.

Sources:http://theportugalnews.com

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