Strasbourg, France – In a speech to the European Parliament (EP), the President of the Republic emphasized that the admission of Portugal and Spain into the European Economic Community (EEC) 40 years ago “transformed both European and Portuguese history.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated, “What is fundamentally different and significant is that the 20th century’s European integration, culminating in Portugal’s accession forty years ago on the same day as Spain, with Mário Soares and Felipe González spearheading the effort, altered History.”
He noted, “It changed European history, transformed our relationship with our only land neighbor, and reshaped our own History. It marked a shift towards freedom, democracy, the rule of law, development, and social justice.”
Marcelo highlighted that, “After centuries of independence shaped by the oceans and empire, and the eventual and overdue end of the empire, Portugal, Spain, and the states that joined the EU embarked on a new History through the multi-continental and multi-oceanic Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).”
He added, “This new era has persisted for nearly 50 years and would not have been possible without Europe, whether inside, outside, or against it. A prime example of this transformation is the camaraderie between Portugal and Spain, as represented here by the two leaders on behalf of their nations.”
The President asserted that Portugal will “never, ever” abandon Europe. “For Portugal, to forsake Europe would mean relinquishing an essential and irreplaceable part of itself,” he declared.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the contributions of Portugal and Spain in building connections with Africa and Latin America, noting they played a significant role in shaping Europe permanently.
During the commemorative session marking the 40th anniversary of Portugal and Spain’s accession to the EEC, which featured speeches from both Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and King Felipe VI of Spain, Roberta Metsola remarked that the entry of the two nations into the European bloc “ultimately turned a page in history, ensuring democracy would endure.”
She also observed that for the citizens of Spain and Portugal, “Europe quickly integrated into their daily lives, influencing how they worked, studied, traveled, and envisioned their families’ future.” (01/26/26)
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