Key Benefits:
CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Proposal for Resolution No 3/XIII
The participation of the Portuguese Republic in the European Organization for the Exploration of
Meteorological satellites (EUMETSAT) is of enormous relevance, given the
responsibilities of the Portuguese State in the European framework and, in particular, in the region
atlantica in relation to the collection and provision of meteorological information for support
to air and sea navigation.
The Convention for the Establishment of EUMETSAT, approved, for ratification, by the
Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic paragraph 16/88 of August 4 and ratified by the Decree
of the President of the Republic No 60/88 of August 19, was reviewed by the Protocol of
Amendments to the Convention for the Establishment of a European Organization for the
Exploration of Meteorological Satellites, signed in Darmstadt on June 5, 1991,
approved, for ratification, by the Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No 22/94, and
ratified by the Decree of the President of the Republic No 24/94, both of May 11.
It is in this scope that the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of EUMETSAT,
adopted in Darmstadt, on December 1, 1986, approved, for accession, by the Resolution
of the Assembly of the Republic paragraph 7/95, and ratified by the Decree of the President of the Republic
n. 16/95, both of February 7, defines the privileges and immunities considered
necessary for the efficient fulfillment of the exercise of the official activities of EUMETSAT.
Such approval, for accession, was, however, subject to certain reservations, namely
those made to Article 5 (1), at points (5) g ) and h ) of Article 10, and Article 23.
CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Under the terms of the paragraph g ) of Article 10 of the Protocol, to which it establishes that the members of the
staff of EUMETSAT enjoy exemption from " any national taxes on the
salaries and emoluments paid by EUMETSAT, excluding pensions and other benefits
similar paid by EUMETSAT, from the date on which such staff members
stay subject to a tax on the respected salaries charged by EUMETSAT, to
benefit of this ", was affixed reserve where it is established that this exemption would not cover the
national and permanent residents in Portugal.
However, considering, on the one hand, that the Portuguese taxation system is based on the
criterion of residence and, on the other, that formulation of such a reservation does not guarantee the equality of
treatment among members of EUMETSAT staff on the grounds of their nationality and
residence, and may act as a deterrent to the exercise of duties by nationals
in that international body, it matters to proceed to the withdrawal of the said reservation.
This reservation has been approved by the b) of Article 2 of the Assembly Resolution of the
Republic No 7/95 of February 7, which approved this Protocol, and therefore the approval of the
withdrawal from the reservation implies the consequent express revocation of this provision.
Thus:
Under the terms of the paragraph d ) of Article 197 (1) of the Constitution, the Government presents to the
Assembly of the Republic the following motion for a resolution:
Article 1.
Approval
Approves the withdrawal of the reservation formulated at the point g ) of Article 10 of the Protocol on the
Privileges and Immunities of the European Organization for the Exploration of Satellites
Meteorological (EUMETSAT), adopted in Darmstadt, on December 1, 1986.
CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Article 2.
Abrogation standard
It is repealed at para. b ) of Article 2 of the Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No 7/95 of 7
of February.
Seen and approved in Council of Ministers of March 31, 2016
The Prime Minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs