Portugal wants joint European debt issuance worth up to 1.6 trln euros

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa urged European leaders on Wednesday for a joint debt issuance worth up to 1.6 trillion euros (1.41 trillion pounds) to support the recovery of the bloc's coronavirus-battered economies."It is essential that a strong and clear response comes out of the European Council," Costa told parliament ahead of the European Council's special meeting on Thursday.