1. The issue of the European Parliament elections was the major concern in the Portuguese debate on the EU. Certain parties were apprehensive of federalism.

2. Portugal fully endorsed article 8b on the participation of EU citizens in elections to the European Parliament.

3. Portugal also holds that national Parliaments should be given access to the proposed EU acts before they are approved.

4. Regarding the appointment of the new Commission, Portugal believes that the Council of Ministers should be kept intact and given certain restricted powers.

5. On the macroeconomic level, the Government respects the national convergence programme but also states that there has to be a certain degree of flexibility in it.

6. The Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) is favoured in Portugal.

7. Portugal favours Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) as it approaches the convergence criteria, but also states that there is a need to strengthen the accountability of the European Central Bank.

8. The Portuguese Government has also sided with the Commission in making concrete proposals for the implementation of the Delors White Paper on employment, competitiveness and growth.

9. Regarding the EU's Common Foreign and Security policy, Portugal believes that division of labour between WEU and NATO can create a dilemma in certain situations.