On 8th October, the second day of the NDC’s visit to Lisbon, Senior Course 123 had the opportunity to attend briefings by high-level representatives from the Portuguese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Defence.
The day of briefings at the National Defence Institute (NDI) began with an office call between the DAPP of the NDC, Brigadier General Gerd BISCHOF, and Major General Vitor Daniel
RODRIGUES VIANA, Director of the Institute, who welcomed Course Members warmly in his initial address.
The first plenary session was opened by Dr Rui MACIEIRA, Director General for Foreign Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who presented a detailed report on Portuguese Foreign Policy, underlining its main achievements and challenges. The sensitive topic of the international economic crisis was then addressed by Dr Vanda CUNHA, General Director of the Office for Economics and International Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, who described the challenges associated with the Portuguese financial crisis. Its causes and the measures being taken to speed up the economic recovery that is underway were explained during an open and sincere presentation. These two briefings were followed by a very interesting and productive Q&A.
The second plenary session on defence started with a briefing by Major General Rui CLERO, Chief of Cabinet to the Minister of Defence, who addressed the fundamentals of the National Defence Policy. He was followed by Rear Admiral Luis ALMEIDA CARVALHO, Chief of the Strategic Planning Division Armed Forces Joint Staff, who covered the structure, tasks and current commitments of the Portuguese Armed Forces. The ensuing Q&A period elicited keen interest from the audience.
Later that afternoon, BrigGen BISHOF attended a courtesy call with the Chief of Defence, General Luis ESTEVES de ARAUJO, who expressed great appreciation for the NDC’s activities.
The outstanding level of the meetings held in Lisbon confirms the excellent cooperation between the Portuguese authorities and the NATO Defense College. Following this visit to Portugal, the European Perspectives Field Study now travels on to Spain (Madrid).
NDC Public Affairs Office
NATO Defense College 
