国际英语新闻:Portuguese PM calls for compromise to solve unemployment, birth-rate problems

LISBON, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho admitted Saturday that the country's fiscal burden was "very high" while calling for consensus to fight high unemployment and the low birth-rate.

He called for understanding and compromise from political, economical and social agents to come up with a "truly national strategy" during a visit to the municipalities of Cinfaes and Arouca in the north of Portugal.

"We have to solve these problems, the birth-rate and unemployment, and we have to unite social, political and economical agents. We need a truly national strategy," he said.

Passos Coelho also claimed that Portugal had a high level of social protection, which he said many countries in East Europe didn't have.

Portugal's unemployment rate stands at around 15 percent.

The debt laden country ended its 78-billion-euro (about 107 billion U.S. dollars) bailout program in May but is still emerging from its deepest recession since the 1970s.

Emigration is a concern for the country, with tens of thousands finding opportunities abroad. Portugal has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, with the National Institute of Statistics predicting that the country will have 4 million citizens less in 2060.