Astute observers of the wheeling and dealing among European Union heads of governments might agree that the agreement brokered by German chancellor Angela Merkel on a treaty to replace the abortive attempt at an EU constitution will prove a hard act to follow.

Now appearing on stage to follow through the Merkel moment is Jose Socrates, who after his socialist party’s landslide victory in 2005 became prime minister of Portugal in March that year, seven months before Merkel took office at the head of a Grand Coalition in Berlin. They are of similar ages and generations – she is 52, he 49 – both, in fact, born close to the time, 50 years ago, of the Treaty of Rome that ultimately led to today’s EU. Between them, and with Slovenia that will in turn succeed Portugal in the presidency of the European Council, the treaty agreed at that castle in Meseberg in June must be brought to fruition.

“This is a moment for action,” says the document on Portugal’s EU presidency priorities posted on the Portuguese government website.

“It is essential to improve the functioning of the EU through reform of the treaties in order to ensure better implementation of the Lisbon Strategy and more efficient external action. This is the way in which we can influence our position in a globalised world.”

The document says that the European Council has mandated Portugal to call an intergovernmental conference (IGC, the means by which member states negotiate or amend an EU treaty). The objective of this IGC is clear, the document says: to draw up a treaty amending the existing treaties with a view to enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the enlarged EU.

“We shall carry out our work in accordance with the expressed political will of the member states, but all participants will have to demonstrate the same political will during the IGC.”

On enlargement, Portugal said that reform of the EU should facilitate the fulfillment of existing commitments on the enlargement process. “The benefits of this endeavour are obvious, through its contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. The EU should develop and consolidate these gains.”

Reforms in the Western Balkans, necessary to stabilise and bring countries closer to the EU, should be intensified, the document says.

Further, “our aim remains to open the way for the abolition of border controls between Schengen area member states, before the end of this presidency”.

Improving the health of public finances in the EU is essential in order to ensure solid economic growth, as well as the long term sustainability of economic and social policies. Ensuring that the internal market functions more efficiently is a key objective. Particular attention will be paid to the internal market for financial services, as well as the fight against tax evasion and fraud. Postal services are also a subject for attention.

“We will foster a debate focused on strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs, including their access to financing.”

Portugal will organise a European Cultural Forum and a European Tourism Forum, in order to underline the necessity of these areas in the EU common agenda.

Increasing the efficiency of the internal market will not be viable without legislating better, reducing bureaucracy and eliminating administrative burdens.

The Portuguese presidency will continue work on the Action Plan for Innovation and will promote a debate on the future of policy on research and technology in Europe. It will also contribute towards the establishment of a European policy aiming to attract highly skilled workers.

Modernising higher education and life-long learning are essential components of this vision.

“In this context, the search for a balance between flexibility and security in the labour market, requires that adequate consideration be given to several elements: life-long learning, social protection mechanisms, active labour market policies, functional flexibility and the differences between the situations and models of the member states.” Social inclusion, the fight against poverty, in particular child poverty, reconciling work with personal and family life, are the priority themes for the Portuguese presidency. ‘We will also seek to include a gender-based perspective in all policy domains,” the document says.

Dealing with climate change and making progress towards a sustainable environmental and energy model are priority actions.

“Halting the loss of biodiversity is an imperative for any presidency.” Portugal will seek to involve the business world, by holding a conference on the theme of “Business and Biodiversity”.

On migration, the principal goal of the Portuguese presidency will be to implement the “Global Approach to Migration”. There is a need to intensify the partnerships between the EU and countries of transit and origin of migratory flows, the document says.

An approach to migration issues wholly centred on illegal migration would be simplistic. The Portuguese presidency will also foster a debate, in various forums, on the promotion of legal migration channels, the integration of migrants, health and migration, as well the links between this issue and development policy, readmission and circular migration.

Portugal will organise a high-level conference on legal migration and a “EuroMed” ministerial meeting on migration.

“We will develop the policy on legal migration, based on the proposed directives on the definition of common rights of third-country nationals in legal employment in a member state and on conditions of entry and residence of highly skilled workers.”

The Portuguese presidency will continue the negotiations on a directive providing for sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals. It is also a priority to conclude the negotiations on the proposal for a directive on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals.

“The cross-border protection of personal data is essential to having a high level of trust, cooperation and efficiency in criminal justice. Particular attention will be paid to the Framework Decision on the protection of personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters.”

The document says: “Our capacity to speak out has to be strengthened. Tackling climate change, promoting economic and social development, dealing efficiently with migration, fighting organised crime and people trafficking, and combating terrorism are some of the challenges that require leadership and shared responses”.

Portugal will pay particular attention to questions of disarmament and non-proliferation.

“Africa and Europe have a recent history of missed opportunities. The time has come for them to develop a joint strategy. We have to act together and, externally, be seen to act in a concerted manner. The emphasis we place on the holding in Lisbon of the Summit between the EU and Africa flows from this perception.” External to the document, media reports about this planned summit have been dominated by controversy over whether Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe will attend.

“Summits with China, India and Ukraine will be at the core of our common external agenda. We will act in close collaboration with European partners in order to create the conditions for progress in the EU-Russia relationship,” the Portuguese document says.

The Portuguese presidency, the document says, will take forward the work carried out by the EU, with all the relevant international partners, in closely following the prolonged crisis in the Middle East. “The role of the Quartet in the Middle East Peace Process is crucial.”

The EU will maintain its constructive approach in the handling of the situations involving Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, according to the document.

In Sofia on July 2, Portuguese ambassador Mario Jesus dos Santos said that the Portuguese EU presidency would work in close co-operation with the European Commission and the Bulgarian authorities for the return home of the Bulgarian medics held in Libya, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.