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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Portugal’s joining the European Communities, the President of the Republic addressed a message to the Presidents of the European Institutions.

The message was addressed to the President of the Council of Europe, Donald Tusk, to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and to the Speaker of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz.

Following is the text of the message from President Cavaco Silva:

“Mister President,

We celebrate, on 1 January 2016, the 30th anniversary of Portugal’s integration in the European Communities, one of the most relevant markers in the 20th century History of Portugal. Portugal became, on 1 January 1986, the eleventh Member State of the European Communities.

Throughout these three decades of participation in the European project, Portugal fully assumed its role as a responsible partner, active and even decisive at given times. We lived up to and overcame many difficulties and challenges; we went through structural changes and achieved economic and social development. Equally important, with its History and universalist vocations, Portugal added value to the European project.

The relevance that the European Union has nowadays in Portugal’s economic, political, financial and social existence has made us more driven, with more solidarity and better creative to face the enormous challenges with which Europe is coming across in these days. The main focuses of our attention, now and as ever, are the people, the values and the constituent principles of the European project.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva”