Mister Speaker of the National Parliament
Prime Minister,
President of the Government of Spain,
Prime Minister of Cape Verde,
President of the European Parliament,
President of the European Commission,
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Portugal and Spain,
President of the National Committee for the Celebrations of the Centenary of the Republic,
Authorities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The signature of the Treaty of Adhesion of Portugal to the European Communities, a banner in our history, took place on this very day 25 years ago.

My first words are to once again express the recognition which is due to all those whose contribution allowed Portugal to become the eleventh Member State of the European Communities.

A recognition which I address especially to the political leaders who had the daring, the strategic vision and the determination to lead Portugal towards integration in the European Communities.

A recognition which, in total fairness, I equally address to the negotiators, the diplomats, the professionals who, with dedication and competence, worked in the areas of European integration.

It is opportune to recall what the integration in the European Communities meant for our Country. It contributed for the consolidation of democracy. It opened new opportunities for development. It strengthened the projection of our Country in the World.

In 25 years of integration in the Communities, it is now possible to take an objective view. And this view is, undoubtedly, extremely positive.
Portugal accompanied the demanding rhythm of the deepening of integration, demonstrating not just political will, but also an effective reforming capability to adapt itself to change.

When Jacques Delors, the foremost figure of European integration, designated our Country as “the good pupil”, an appropriate expression, but so often badly interpreted, he wished to demonstrate that Portugal knew how to overcome lack of confidence and to conquer the respect of the other partners and of the community institutions. Cultivating rigour, cooperation, solidarity, we strengthened negotiating capability in the defence of the fundamental interests of the Country.

The way we exercised the three presidencies of the Council of the European Union, in 1992, 2000 and 2007, strengthened significantly our assertive assets. In 1992, I myself presided at the Lisbon Council of Europe. This was where the irreversible advance of the Single Market was consecrated, as well as the creation of the Cohesion Fund and the main guidelines for the Delors Package. I recall great players of this Council, such as François Mitterrand, meanwhile gone from our midst, Helmut Kohl, Felipe Gonzalez and Jacques Delors, decisive actors of a shining decade in the process of European integration.

In 2000, under the Portuguese presidency, the Lisbon Strategy was established. And, in 2007, in the most recent Portuguese presidency, the negotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon was completed, ending interminable years of institutional blockage.

In the balancing out of these 25 years of adhesion the contribution for the economic and social development is excelling. In the first 15 years, our Country’s per capita product increased from 53 percent of the community average to approximately 75 per cent. That is, the Portuguese economy converged with that of Europe at a rate which surpassed every perspective. The access to community funds, the structural reforms carried out, the capacity to attract foreign investment which increased fivefold in the first five years of adhesion, and the modernization of the legal and administrative framework, were at the base of this fine performance of the Portuguese economy.

Currently, outside of a united Europe, Portugal would be facing much greater difficulties and would have less capacity to answer them.

The assessment of our integration in the European Communities is equally very expressive in the strengthening of the Portuguese voice in the international scenario. We improved our bonds with the Portuguese speaking countries, with Latin America and with the Mediterranean. The Atlantic dimension, which is an essential pillar of the Country’s identity, was also valued with our full participation in the European construction.

Due to its relevance I must emphasize a further factor which has been a cause of the success of Portugal’s integration in Europe.

This was the possibility of enjoying a wide strategic convergence surrounding our participation in the European Union, between the main political forces and the economic and social partners, a convergence equally revealed in the cooperation between sovereign bodies.

In these 25 years we did not limit ourselves to glean the benefits of adhesion. We also contributed to the strengthening of the relations of the European Union with other countries and regions, through sharing our strong secular identity, our vision of the World, and our privileged links with so many regions, from Africa to the Americas.

The challenge of European integration is a permanent challenge. It will never be definitively conquered. I am well aware that Portugal will always face close scrutiny, whether in the case of public finance and the performance of the economy, or as to the Portuguese performance in European institutions. We have the responsibility to meet that challenge.

In addition, as we know, this is a crisis era for Europe. An era which even challenges the bases of European integration and, in particular, the Economic and Monetary Union.

It is known that European integration, throughout more than fifty years, has always advanced in times of crisis. It always found an answer to the crises it had to face. I trust that there will be more of the same now.

The European project is based upon the dual approach “responsibility-solidarity” which, as Churchill foresaw, allowed placing “the collective strength of the European nations” at the service of the common cause.

An enormous responsibility weighs over the national leaders and the European Union. From their determination, their strategic sense, their dedication to the European common cause, depends the future of European construction.

If we do not defend the euro, which continues to be a decisive instrument for Europe to face the global world, by reinvigorating, specifically, the Economic Union which has been the weakest link of the European Union, the survival of the European project may be in question.

I clearly reassert: European integration is not the cause of the difficulties; it is rather the answer to the issues. What weakens European integration are the lack of strategic sense and the lack of responsibility and solidarity, whether from the Member States, or from the European institutions.

The competitiveness of the European economy is equally in question, faced with a global economy from which emerge new and powerful performers and a growing competitive belligerence is manifest.

Knowing how to profit from its competitive advantages, influence the new framework of multilateral discipline in negotiation and rationally allocate the resources to the areas with an effective productive potential must be, for this exact reason, at the top of the European priorities.

Portugal wants to continue in the first line of European construction, sharing that great objective of European unity. Enthusiastically, with a sense of responsibility, with a spirit of solidarity. And, above all, with confidence and hope. Today, just as 25 years ago, we want to be up to this ambitious project, this project for the future.

Thank you.