President of the Council of the European Union,
President of the European Commission,
President of the European Parliament,
President of the Government of Spain,
Prime Minister,
President designate of the Council of the European Union,
Distinguished Guests,

Please allow me an initial word of greetings for the President of the Republic of Chile, on a Visit of State to Portugal, who gave us the honour to accept my invitation to join this ceremony. A ceremony held in the country which Pablo Neruda defined as the “bow of Europe”.

Today is a day of hope for the Europeans. A day for the History of European construction.

The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon puts an end to the institutional stalemate which has lasted for a decade. A reflection of this new reality is the presence, in this ceremony, of the President of the Council of Europe, recently appointed. I greet him with particular emphasis, and wish him the greatest success in the relevant functions he is called upon to perform.

With the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union now has renewed conditions available to face the challenges of our times, to take advantage of the opportunities they offer and to meet the anxieties and the concerns of the people.

Today Europe becomes more apposite, but simultaneously more responsible, to answer the challenges it is facing.

To start with, better prepared to face the economic and financial crisis and its social consequences, particularly unemployment; more apposite to lead the fight against the causes and effects of climatic change; better equipped to support an effective model of sustainable development; better capable to defend energy and food safety.

The European Union may, from now on, concentrate its energy on such urgent issues as the objective of competitiveness, effectively promoting the qualification of the people, scientific research and technological innovation and supporting small and medium sized companies.

With the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union can and must strengthen its voice as a coherent and credible player in the international stage, assuming the responsibilities which derive from its economic dimension and its geopolitical weight.

In this new emergent multilateral world, Europe has a central and irreplaceable role.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Several of the great Portuguese maritime expeditions which took Europe to the world and carried out History’s first globalization departed from this site.

What the Portuguese of yore carried out was based upon ambition, took the form of a mustering project and owed its success to the alliance between the intrepid will of men and the talents of technological innovation.

This is the Europe we want: open to the world, ambitious, capable of mustering political will and the enthusiasm of its peoples, and that promotes and takes advantage of knowledge.

It is this project that calls upon all of us, political leaders and citizens. Because the Europe we want will never come true without the political will of the decision makers and the endeavour of the people.

It is in the hands of the European leaders to cause the Treaty, named after the city of Lisbon, to be an instrument of hope for the future of Europe.

Thank you very much. .