Dignitaries celebrate Portugal’s 40 years ‘in Europe’
Prime minister Luís Montenegro is one of many dignitaries who have been giving speeches in Lisbon on the 40th anniversary of Portugal’s accession to the European Communities.
A conference yesterday has been followed by a ceremony at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon today – with the resounding message coming out of the events being the boon of European solidarity.
There are, nonetheless, serious challenges – populism/ extremism being one of them. And it was this topic that Luís Montenegro acknowledged in his contribution to the moment.
In the words of state news agency Lusa, the prime minister admitted that the country “has not always taken full advantage of the opportunities over the past 40 years”, pointing to other structural problems such as “demographic challenges, territorial asymmetries, housing challenges, economic competitiveness and income enhancement”.
“These are issues that require political courage, strategic vision and, above all, a renewed commitment to deepening and strengthening the European project,” he said.
But his special warning was about populism and extremism – 51 years after April 25 and 40 years after joining the European Union.
He described it both as “a direct threat to the functioning of our democratic institutions and the cohesion of our societies,” arguing that, for the future, citizens demand “an open but secure Europe that responds to the internal and external challenges of a world in profound change..
“A united Europe, with no room for populism, extremism and demagoguery that seek to divide and exploit us. The celebration of these 40 years is a tribute to those who dreamed of this united Europe,” he added.
In his speech, Montenegro said that although “the European Union is not perfect”, it is a project “under constant construction”
“Portugal is a beneficiary of the European project, but it also strengthens it every day through the contribution we make at every step of its construction, through our culture, science and innovation, through our diplomacy and through our example,” he said.
In addition to a secure Europe, Montenegro said he believes citizens want “a competitive Europe that promotes cohesion and convergence of economic development for the benefit of all” allowing “each citizen to fulfil their life project, with equal conditions and opportunities”.
“The celebration of these 40 years is a tribute to those who dreamed of this united Europe,” he added.
Thanking those who worked to make Portugal part of “this dream and this fascinating project” and “those who continue today to build a more developed, cohesive and supportive society”, Montenegro said that “Portugal, the European Union and the world continue to need the commitment of all citizens to continue building a prosperous Europe that is fairer and more influential in the world”.
“There is no progress without memory. There is no future without commitment. Let us celebrate the memory of Portugal in Europe. Let us celebrate 40 years of membership as a milestone, but also as a starting point for this shared future, with ambition, responsibility and hope.”
Other speeches, by President Marcelo, former European Commissioner Durão Barroso, President of the European Council António Costa, and leader of European Parliament Roberta Metsola continued extolling the merits of the past 40-years of association, with the former stressing how Europe is an essential partner for peace – even making the effort to encourage Russia ‘back to sense’
“It is time for the Russian Federation to recognize the blatant strategic error of the last many years, culminating in the intolerable invasion of Ukraine, and return to the concert of nations, to its culture and its European anchoring,” he said.
