At the opening of the third European Political Dialogue Forum on Refugees and Migrants, Secretary of State for Integration and Migration, Cláudia Pereira, highlighted the Portuguese Government's concern to provide information and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles to inclusion.

Vaccination against Covid-19 of undocumented immigrants and refugees was highlighted as “one of the examples” of Portugal's effort to integrate these citizens. To the list of good practices, there is greater political participation by those who chose Portugal to live and work, with a “10 percent” increase in the number of immigrants voting.

The position was taken by Secretary of State for Integration and Migration, Cláudia Pereira, at the opening of the 3rd European Political Dialogue Forum on Refugees and Migrants, in Lisbon, organised by the International Dialogue Center (KAICIID), Network for Dialogue and the Council of European Religious Leaders / Religions for Peace in Europe (ECRL/RfP Europe).

“What we are trying to do is to integrate, in all measures, immigrants and refugees”, disseminating information and eliminating bureaucratic obstacles, explained the government official. Claúdia Pereira recalled the importance of foreigners for the country's demography and Social Security system. In 2019, for example, they contributed €884 million.

Another example of this integration comes from the local elections, held last September. “We increased the number of immigrants to vote by 10 percent”, said the head of Integration and Migration. In the last suffrage, the number of immigrants elected to local government bodies rose, she added.

In Portugal, 7 percent of the population is composed of immigrants, according to data from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).