On the 40th anniversary since Portugal signed the Treaty to join the European Communities, the Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro claimed that the European integration irreversibly changed the country’s path, allowing for a profound economic, social, and democratic transformation.

"Portugal has had one of the most remarkable development trajectories in contemporary Europe. A path that can be measured through the effective improvement in quality of life, the opportunities created, the horizons broadened", stated the Prime Minister during the ceremony to celebrate the date held in Jerónimos Monastery.

Luís Montenegro stressed that joining the European Union was a strategic wager and a collective fate: "Joining was a strategic wager to speed up economic development and consolidate our democracy, yet also the confirmation of Portugal as an integral part of a democratic, developed, and solidary Europe"

Commitment to a European future

No seu discurso, o Primeiro-Ministro reforçou a importância de uma Europa competitiva e coesa, que responda às aspirações dos cidadãos: "Os nossos cidadãos exigem uma Europa competitiva, que promova a coesão e a convergência do desenvolvimento económico em benefícios para todos. Uma Europa que permita a cada cidadão cumprir o seu projeto de vida com igualdade de condições e oportunidades."

Apontando os desafios que se colocam à construção europeia, Luís Montenegro destacou o combate ao populismo e extremismo como essencial para a defesa da democracia: "Um dos mais sérios desafios que enfrentamos é o crescimento de populismos e extremismos, uma ameaça direta ao funcionamento das nossas instituições democráticas e à coesão das nossas sociedades."

He also noted the structural issues, such as territorial inequalities, the demographic challenges, housing and improving wages, alerting to the need for there to be "political courage, strategic vision, and a renewed commitment to the European project ".

Europe as a project for cooperation and peace

Luís Montenegro acknowledged that over these 40 years, not all the opportunities were duly used, yet he underlined the pride felt in the path carried out: "The European Union is not perfect, it is a project that is permanently under constructions and adapting to changes in the world. But it is still the most daring and successful project of cooperation among nations."

The Prime Mnister also noted Portugal’s active role in strengthening Europe: "Portugal benefits from the European project, yet it also strengthents it every day through its diplomacy, history, humanizem, and capacity for dialogue"

Ceremony held in Jerónimos

The session took place in the Jerónimos Monastery cloister, the same venue where the Treaty was signed in 1985. In addition to the Prime Minister, the following gave a speech: the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the European Council António Costa, and the former President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso.

Former Ministers, Members of European Parliament, representatives of the political parties and other guests were also in attendance, with cultural moments of fado and Alentejo chants.