Senate calls for implementation of mobility agreement in CPLP

The outgoing presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (AP-CPLP), led by Equatorial Guinea, called on Monday for the implementation of the mobility agreement between Portuguese-speaking countries, recognizing the current difficulties.

“Free movement within the CPLP continues to be a challenge, since mobility is not facilitated for everyone, only for holders of diplomatic and official passports (…) we recommend the effective implementation of the mobility agreement signed on July 17, 2021 in Angola,” said Teresa Efua Asangono, president of the AP-CPLP and president of the Senate of Equatorial Guinea, in Maputo.

Speaking at the opening of the 14th ordinary meeting of the AP-CPLP, the leader highlighted mobility difficulties that affect economic, cultural and academic life between the countries of the community.

The mobility agreement within the CPLP was signed on July 17, 2021, in Luanda, by the community's heads of state and government, but only a few countries have moved forward with its implementation.

"It hinders the movement of students, cultural agents, businesspeople, and others. It's important to note that the difficulties these groups face in traveling between countries are recognized," explained the president of the Senate of Equatorial Guinea, whose term as president of the AP-CPLP (Portuguese Communist Party of Portugal) ends this Monday, having been assumed by Mozambique as of Tuesday .

Asangono also warned that the body only sets up electoral observation missions when there are elections in African countries, so it should move to the same extent to nations with more advanced democracies (Portugal and Brazil) to share experience.

"There is no doubt that some countries in our community are very advanced democratically. Therefore, participating in an electoral observation mission in these countries would be a great experience for other countries in the process of achieving full electoral democracy. Therefore, we request that all countries establish an electoral observation mission for their elections ," said the outgoing president.

Mozambique will assume the rotating presidency of the AP-CPLP at the 14th meeting taking place at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center in Maputo, succeeding Equatorial Guinea, in a two-year term focused on peace and inclusion.

"I must emphasize to my fellow presidents that finding a solution to this issue is challenging, as it is virtually impossible for a permanent secretary to operate from their own country while their offices are in another. The permanent secretary's lack of legal personality also hinders their operations," the outgoing president also warned, regarding the newly created position of permanent secretary.

In July 2024, Mozambique hosted the annual meeting, the 13th ordinary session, of the AP-CPLP, under the chairmanship of the President of the Senate of Equatorial Guinea, Teresa Efua Asangono, a country that expressed difficulty in hosting the annual event.

Founded in 1996, the CPLP comprises nine countries – Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.