At the beginning of a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic, as part of the detailed examination of the proposed 2027 State Budget (OE2027), Rui Armindo Freitas said the integration plan would involve municipalities, businesses and civil society.
“Anyone who chooses Portugal as a place to live must learn our language, respect our laws and genuinely want to belong to our community,” the Secretary of State said, adding that “with this Government, integration policy is non-negotiable. Integration policy is not, and cannot be, a dance without a partner”.
Rui Armindo Freitas also stressed that “the immigration budget is paid for by immigration”, with the Minister for the Presidency adding that “the National Integration Plan will be financed through revenue generated by fees paid by immigrants and, on the other hand, through European funds for immigration”.
The National Integration Plan, promised by the Government a year ago, already has several measures underway, including an increase in language and cultural mediators in schools and additional funding for immigrant associations.
In an interview with Lusa in October, Rui Armindo Freitas explained that the plan does not involve small-scale initiatives, but seeks to “look at foreign citizens as people who must go through a process of integration in Portugal when they come to us seeking a career in the Portuguese economy”.