The Prime Minister acknowledged that the timetables agreed at Iberian summits are not always met.

Montenegro pointed out that studies are underway for the third crossing over the Tagus and the Lisbon-Madrid high-speed link, “but there is already a link between Évora and the border”, corresponding to “a substantial part of the route that falls to Portugal”.

“And, therefore, all the conditions are in place to complete the Lisbon-Madrid link by 2034”, as well as, “if the technical validation that is underway” has “good results”, for “the section that has already been built to become operational in the meantime”.

Luís Montenegro was speaking in Huelva, Spain, at a joint conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the 36th Iberian Summit.

Portuguese-Spanish projects

Both were questioned about the rail links and other projects that repeatedly appear in the final statements and agreements of Portuguese-Spanish summits, yet the implementation deadlines are not met.

Montenegro acknowledged that “the deadlines for implementation” of the projects agreed at the summits “are not always desirable”, but argued that it should be made clear that, in the case of trains, the works are progressing.

In addition to the connection between the two capitals, he mentioned that the high-speed line linking Lisbon, Porto and Vigo (in Galicia) is currently under construction, with the Government estimating its completion in 2032 or 2033.

As for the connection between Aveiro and Salamanca, and between Faro and Seville, the Huelva summit documents again mention the intention to continue studies related to the two projects.

Regarding the Faro-Seville line, which will pass through Huelva, the Portuguese Prime Minister pointed out that it was only mentioned for the first time in the statements of the Iberian summits at the previous meeting between the Governments of Portugal and Spain, held in Faro in October 2024.

Accelerating investments

Pedro Sánchez, for his part, considered that “it is true that some investments need to be accelerated and streamlined” and guaranteed Spain’s commitment to the implementation of the agreed rail links, emphasising that several are linked to projects and initiatives that are important for both countries, such as the 2030 World Cup.

Both Montenegro and Sánchez stressed, however, the importance and impact of the Iberian summits and the agreements that come out of the meetings, citing this year’s storms that hit the Iberian Peninsula and the management of shared river flows.

Both highlighted that even more serious situations were avoided thanks to cooperation between the two countries and the agreements on water that emerged from the Faro summit in 2024.

“It is therefore a good example to highlight that these summits are not just about signing documents, they are not just a new opportunity to share points of view; this has a practical effect and a result that can then be seen,” said Luís Montenegro.

Luís Montenegro, who expressed solidarity and offered words of “comfort” to Spain for the impact of the bad weather in the country and the victims of the recent train accidents, highlighted the cooperation and coordination between the two governments in response to the floods.

Joint management of water flows “was essential to prevent the consequences from being even worse” in both countries, “but particularly on the Portuguese side,” he said.

Sánchez also expressed the Spanish people’s solidarity with Portugal in light of the adverse weather and its victims.