Portuguese PM wants EU plan to support virus-battered economy: Report

LISBON - Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa was expecting the European Union (EU) to adopt, in a short term, an EU recovery plan for member economies battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, national broadcaster Independent Television (TVI) reported online on Monday.

In an interview with TVI, Costa commended EU's economic stimulus measures and policies in response to the coronavirus crisis. The European Central Bank (ECB) on March 18 announced a new temporary asset purchase program covering private and public sector securities that has an overall envelope of 750 billion euros ($807 billion) to counter the novel coronavirus risks.

"I'm sure the debate at the European Council next Thursday will be very tough," Costa said. "Europe has to have a big project for mobilization and economic reconstruction after this pandemic."

He also assured Portuguese people that the country's health system will not go to the "breaking point" under mounting pressure of the COVID-19 epidemic. "In the worst case scenario, we will not lose control of the situation," he said.

Portugal recorded 2,060 confirmed cases of COVID-19 -- 460 more from Sunday, and 23 deaths, according to a bulletin from the Directorate-General for Health on Monday.