Portugal: 30 years in the EU

Margarida Marques

Lecture by Dr.ª Margarida Marques, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs.

When Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, it was a mere 12 years after the overthrow of a dictatorship that had ruled over Portugal for 48 years and was simultaneously coming to terms with the loss of its empire (the "overseas territories"), the massive influx of returnees from those countries, the establishment of a new democracy and possibilities for integration into the broader European context. 

This talk examines Portugal’s recent history and relationship with the European Union.