Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit the Portuguese Republic from 5 to 7 October. In Porto he will be taking part, at the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in the 18th Arraiolos meeting of the non-executive heads of state of the European Union.

The presidents of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia will be discussing challenges facing the European Union, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the impact of climate change, particularly with an eye to the European Parliament elections in June 2024.

The informal format is named after the town of Arraiolos in Portugal, where the first meeting took place in 2003.

Prior to travelling to Porto, Federal President Steinmeier will have paid a state visit to Cabo Verde.

Overview of the programme:

Thursday, 5 October

• Afternoon
  Flight to Porto, Portugal

Friday, 6 October

• 10.00 a.m. (CEST -1), Hotel Pestana Palácio do Freixo
  Welcome by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
• 10.15 a.m.
  First working session of the Arraiolos Group, on "The EU and the situation in Ukraine"
• 2.30 p.m.
  Second working session of the Arraiolos Group, on "The road to the European elections and other challenges for the EU"
• 5.15 p.m.
  Joint press conference
• Evening, Palácio da Bolsa
  Dinner hosted by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Saturday, 7 October

• Morning
  Flight to Berlin