France and Portugal
Political relations
Our bilateral relationship with Portugal is excellent in all areas, and our cooperation has increased significantly in recent years. Our dialogue has increased with the signing of new agreements concerning language, taxation and education, as well as in the field of posted workers and health care.
Portugal is also one of France’s key international partners. In addition to European issues, we converge on major international issues, particularly in Africa.
French presence
The French community in Portugal numbers between 30,000 and 35,000, of whom 16,605 are registered with the embassy (as of September 2021). The Portuguese community in France is estimated at 1,720,000.
Visits
Several bilateral visits have provided an opportunity to deal with major European issues and highlight the many areas on which we converge, including within the framework of the French and Portuguese Presidencies of the Council of the European Union, and the France-Portugal Season:
The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister António Costa, and several Portuguese ministers travelled to Paris on 11-12 February for the opening of the France-Portugal Season. The French Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot Narquin, travelled to Lisbon on 16 February. President Rebelo de Sousa and Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos took part in the 2022 One Ocean Summit in Brest on 10-11 February.
Prime Minister António Costa and Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva were in Paris on 16-17 February for the European Union — African Union summit. Foreign Minister Silva also took part in the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris on 22 February.
Olivier Dussopt, Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, travelled to Portugal on 2 December 2021 as part of preparations for the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. He was received by the Portuguese Finance Minister, Mr João Leão, and the Deputy Minister for Finance and Tax Affairs, Mr António Mendonça Mendes.
Sophie Cluzel, Minister of State for Disabled People, attached to the Prime Minister, travelled to Portugal on 19-20 November 2021 for the European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities.
Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, met with his Portuguese counterpart, Ana Paula Zacarias, in Lisbon on 5 November 2021.
The Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, Bruno Le Maire, travelled to Lisbon on 30 June 2021 to take part in the Recovery Summit organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Further information on French-Portuguese relations (in French)
Ambassadors
Ms Florence Mangin has been French Ambassador to Portugal since 9 May 2019.
The Embassy’s Twitter account is @AmbaFrancePT.
The Portuguese Ambassador in Paris is Mr Torres-Pereira.
Consulates-General: Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg
Economic relations
France is one of Portugal’s main trading partners. In 2021, it maintained its position as Portugal’s second-largest customer and third-largest supplier.
Portugal, meanwhile, is France’s 17th largest customer and 16th largest supplier.
French companies can be found in a range of sectors in Portugal, and many have been established there for many years. There is a significant and long-standing presence in the sector of industry, particularly with regard to transport but also in the areas of chemistry and electrics/electronics. For example, French car manufacturers and subcontractors (PSA, Renault, Faurecia, GMD Eurocast) and French aviation subcontractors (Lauak, Mecachrome) have factories in Portugal. Large retail outlets also have a strong presence. The energy sector, and renewables in particular, is especially buoyant for French companies (e.g. investments by Engie). French companies are also the leading foreign employer in the transport, logistics and trade sectors, as well as in ICT.
For more information, visit https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Ressources/pays/Portugal
Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation
During the Foreign Minister’s visit to Portugal at the start of 2018, France and Portugal agreed to make preparations for crossover observer membership of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) for France and of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) for Portugal. France was admitted as an associated observer State within the CPLP through a decision of the conference of the Heads of State and Government meeting on 17 and 18 July 2018 in Santa Maria, Cabo Verde. This initiative is the natural extension of the intense and strong ties linking France and the Portuguese-speaking world and Portugal itself, while illustrating France’s commitment to promoting multilingualism and cultural diversity.
The France-Portugal Season takes place from February to October 2022. Running concurrently with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it aims to strengthen our bilateral relations and the European project. The multi-disciplinary programming, which will cover both countries, involves the areas of culture, education, youth, the economy, sport and tourism. For more information, visit: https://saisonfranceportugal.com/.
Updated: April 2022