Portugal to recognise Palestinian state ahead of EU summit

Portugal will formally recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. The declaration comes ahead of next week’s High-Level Conference.

Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel had indicated earlier this week, during a visit to the UK, that Portugal was considering recognition.

Unlike Spain, which recognised Palestinian statehood in May 2024 alongside Ireland and Norway and urged other EU members to follow suit, Portugal has taken a more cautious path, seeking to coordinate a common position with its European partners first.

Only a few of the EU’s 27 members formally recognise Palestine, primarily former Communist states along with Sweden and Cyprus. The UN General Assembly granted Palestine “non-member state” status in November 2012, a form of de facto recognition.