France and Portugal Strengthen Friendship with New Cooperation Treaty
News
Published on: April 10, 2026
During the state visit to Portugal on February 27 and 28, 2025, by the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, in Porto, the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between the French Republic and the Portuguese Republic enters into force on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
A Treaty Celebrating the Strong Bond Between France and Portugal
France and Portugal have a long-standing friendship, based on a shared history and common values, and represented by the significant Portuguese diaspora in France. The bilateral relationship is excellent, marked by numerous visits and European or international meetings held in Portugal and France.
Portuguese in France:
1.7 million Portuguese nationals in France
3rd largest foreign community
French in Portugal:
Between 30,000 and 50,000 people
25% of whom are dual citizens
In terms of trade, France is a leading economic partner, ranking as Portugal’s 3rd largest customer and supplier of goods in 2024. France is also the top foreign employer in the country. Cooperation in defense is also a dynamic aspect of our bilateral relationship (signing of a letter of intent in the field of armaments on February 28, 2025).
The Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed on February 28, 2025 marks a new milestone in the bilateral relationship. It reinforces the common horizon linking the two countries as neighbors, friends, European partners, and allies on the international stage, as well as cooperation in various multilateral forums. France and Portugal reaffirm their joint commitment to defend the European project and advance European strategic autonomy, as well as promote multilateralism, an international order based on rules, and the preservation of common goods.
A Comprehensive Treaty Covering All Areas of Cooperation
This treaty aims to strengthen the partnership between the two countries across many domains: cooperation within the European Union; foreign policy, security, and defense; economy, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; energy, transport, environment, and sustainable development; education, higher education, science, research, and innovation; culture and sport; work, employment, and vocational training; justice and internal affairs.
For each of these areas, the Treaty outlines common European and international objectives, details the projects and initiatives that France and Portugal commit to bilaterally, and establishes monitoring and consultation frameworks to implement them. It aims to further deepen and structure our bilateral relationship and multiple cooperations to strengthen our joint action on European and international stages.
Its implementation will be facilitated by institutionalizing and strengthening various exchange formats, including the bilateral High-Level Meeting, held regularly, chaired by the President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic.
Key Priorities of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between France and Portugal
Act jointly to advance European strategic autonomy: achieve the dual green and digital transition, strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and industrial policy, reinforce the internal market and EU common policies, especially the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion policy, preserve the European social model, deepen the European area of freedom, security, and justice, and ensure the security of its citizens.
Strengthen our interoperability and the European defense industry and technological base (EDITS) through increased military cooperation in the five areas of action – land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace – and between our defense industries.
Intensify our cooperation efforts for ocean preservation, achieving international goals in this area, and transitioning to a sustainable blue economy.
Organize bilateral economic and entrepreneurial forums in France and Portugal.
Deepen our linguistic, educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation, paying particular attention to enhancing the mobility of students, teachers, artists, and researchers between our two countries and at the European level.
