Resident British try with "great commitment" to remove Portugal from the blacklist of flights

The British community residing in the Algarve, namely the one who lives in Loulé, has shown "a great commitment" in trying to convince their fellow countrymen to lift the restrictions that the United Kingdom continues to impose on those who travel from our country to that country, namely quarantine on arrival, said the President of the Republic today, at the entrance to a dinner with the mayors of the Algarve, in Querença.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met with representatives of the British Algarve community this afternoon and sees these residents as strong allies to convince the English Government to place Portugal on the list of safe countries and prevent anyone entering the UK from our country from having to fulfill a 14-day quarantine.

«I had a meeting with the British community who live here in Loulé and there was a great commitment on their part to do everything, as far as possible, to show how they are received, how they live here, how they like to live here , as they want to work for a good relationship between the two countries. Naturally, in the economic part, in the business part, but also in the personal part», he revealed.

“This is very important, because diplomacy is not just about ambassadors, ministers, governments and Heads of State. It is made of people. And the people who live here – and there are many, almost 50 thousand – know the Algarve very well, as the vast majority live here. They know what the reality is, they present the reality and this has a lot of strength to convince, to persuade, first, their compatriots and, later, the political leaders," he stressed.

In addition to the community residing in this Algarve municipality, there are others working proactively to lift the restrictions. The Head of State even spoke of mayors “who are bringing videos and testimonies from those who live here to British society. All this helps a lot, it takes time, but it helps».

As for the future, “like everything in life, it is necessary to persist. And we don't give up. We Portuguese are very insistent and we do not give up, because we feel we are right».

«Our intention is correct, in particular here in the case of the Algarve, but it could expand. Basically, what we want is to look at sensible and acceptable criteria, and make them understood and supported by the authorities of a country that has been a friend for so many centuries, Portugal's oldest ally», defended the President of the Republic.

This is the effort that has been made by the Government, although without practical results, and of which he said to be "witness".

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also expressed his hope that the restrictions on flights from Portugal would be lifted by the United Kingdom even before the end of the summer.

“We are all waiting for this and we are working to make it happen. Summer only ends in September. It would be bad if they weren't,” he said.

The meeting with the British community and the dinner with mayors took place after the President of the Republic having visited the nursing home of Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Boliqueime, where the Covid-19 outbreak that caused the most deaths in the Algarve was registered.

Photos: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação