28 May Secretary of State for the Environment reinforces the need for joint action for the Rio Minho

The Portuguese Secretary of State for the Environment, João Amaral Esteves, highlighted the need for coordinated action between Portugal and Spain to address the environmental and strategic challenges facing the Minho River during an institutional visit to the municipality of Valença.

During a meeting promoted by the Rio Minho EGTC, the Secretary of State advocated an integrated vision for the territory, bringing together environmental, economic and social dimensions within a sustainable development framework. He also stressed the importance of strengthening institutional coordination between the two countries through more effective and operational cooperation mechanisms.

José Manuel Vaz Carpinteira, Director of the Rio Minho EGTC, called on the Portuguese Government to “transform dispersed concerns into a genuine political and operational commitment to the Minho River, capable of mobilising different areas of government and strengthening coordination between Portugal and Spain”.

He further argued that “a future Portuguese-Spanish Summit should take place in the cross-border territory of the Minho River, giving political attention to what is the most dynamic, populated and active section of the entire Portuguese-Spanish border, placing at the centre of the debate the common problems, challenges and opportunities of this shared territory”.

The meeting, held on 21 May at the headquarters of the Alto Minho Intermunicipal Community in Valença, brought together Portuguese and Spanish institutional representatives, including members of the Minho River Working Commission, CCDR-Norte, the Portuguese Environment Agency, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, the Harbour Authorities of Caminha and Tui, and several organisations with environmental, maritime and territorial management responsibilities related to the Minho River.

Throughout the session, the regulation of water flows, sedimentation, navigability, invasive species, environmental impacts and the need to strengthen joint governance mechanisms were identified as strategic priorities.

Among the proposals discussed were the organisation of regular meetings between entities from both countries and the establishment of technical monitoring mechanisms capable of accelerating the implementation of concrete solutions for the territory. Participants also recognised the role that the Rio Minho EGTC can play as a platform for institutional coordination and cross-border cooperation, contributing to a more integrated approach to shared challenges.