The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) is an intergovernmental organization that currently includes nine countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and East Timor. These countries, above all, are united by language. Founded in 1996, the CPLP is a political project, based on the sharing of the Portuguese language, whose International Day is celebrated on May 5 every year, as declared by UNESCO in 2019. CPLP has three axes of primary actions: Politics – Diplomatic Consultation, Cooperation, Promotion and Dissemination The Portuguese language.
Political-diplomatic consultations have enhanced the negotiating capabilities of each member state on current international issues and the search for solutions to crises. These consultations also allow for deepening institutional dialogue with states, international organizations and various partners. CPLP has contributed to regional stability and has the capacity to organize electoral observation missions.
Cooperation, supported by public and private institutions and organizations, is dedicated to a wide range of topics: education, economics, justice, environment, culture, social affairs, mobility, health, energy, sports and youth, among others. To give some examples, there is regular cooperation between constitutional courts, ministers of justice, prosecutors, central bank governors, military leaders, police directors, trade union organizations and universities in various member states.
The third axis is the axis of the Portuguese language. One of its tools is the International Portuguese Language Institute, which is responsible for planning and implementing language enhancement programmes. The adoption of the Brasilia and Lisbon Action Plans in 2010 and 2013 contributed to defining global strategies to this end.
However, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) is much more than an association of nations, it is also a community of peoples. This explains the existence, growth and dynamism of this organization, which is located on four continents, without any of its members being territorially contiguous with the other. The main factor in convergence is the common language. It is the language of everyone and the language of everyone, because it contains rich variables and is a vital part of its dynamism. Basically, all CPLP member states recognize Portuguese as their own or one of their official languages. Speaking the same language brings people together, because sharing a language means sharing ideas, emotions, traditions, and knowledge.
Another convergence factor is history. Although it has painful proportions, the long history between the CPLP countries has left in each a common heritage, both material and immaterial, ways of being, behaving, and organizing familiar to the citizens of those member states, who share memories.
The founding principles of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, including the sovereign equality of members, respect for their national identity, the priority of peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights and social justice, and the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation, attest that political and social processes are another factor of convergence . All of these principles are fundamental to the well-being of the citizens of CPLP countries, and are a guiding compass that guides rich and diverse cooperation and has a positive impact on these people.
We draw the reader’s attention to two recent events. First, the signing of the Mobility Agreement at the Luanda Summit in 2021. The agreement is the legal basis for facilitating the movement of people between the member states of the organization. This tool is a clear result of the beneficial effects of CPLP on the daily lives of the population, especially the younger generations. Then, the priority of the organization for the period 2021-2023 is to strengthen the economic dimension, in particular the challenge of cooperation to create jobs and generate wealth, a goal that is necessary to remove obstacles to businesses and workers.
On this World Portuguese Language Day, we also celebrate CPLP. Since its starting point is a common language and a common past, the organization focuses its eyes on the challenges of the present and the future. Its ultimate purpose is to deepen the great sense of belonging to the same community shared by Angolan, Brazilian, Cape Verdean, Bissau, Guinean, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambican, Portuguese, Santomian and Timorese citizens.
Balthasar Diogo Cristovao, Ambassador of Angola
Julio Glinternik Petelli, Ambassador of Brazil
Philomena Mendes Mascarenhas, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau
Bernardo Fucher Pereira, Ambassador of Portugal
Raúl Aragao, Chargé d’Affairs for Sao Tome and Principe
