Forty years ago, Portugal joined the European Union – a milestone that transformed both the country and our Union.
EU membership marked the completion of Portugal's journey towards democracy and opened a new chapter of prosperity and development. It helped modernise the Portuguese economy, build vital infrastructure and improve education, health and living standards. Over these four decades, Portugal has become an open, competitive and outward-looking country.
With Portugal at its core, the European Union is a stronger community built on trust, progress and solidarity. Portugal has played a key role in strengthening Europe’s cohesion and global reach, helping to define the Lisbon Treaty, and bringing new energy to our partnerships with Africa and Latin America. Its unwavering commitment to European values - democracy, solidarity and social justice - continues to inspire the European project.
