Lisbon Declaration restates Portugal’s commitment to the European project

Forty years from signing the Treaty of Accession of Portugal to the European Communities, Portugal returned today to Jerónimos Monastery to stress its commitment to the European construction. 

The President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro signed the Lisbon Declaration, which restates "Portugal’s strong commitment to defending, enhancing and strengthening the European project".

On the same date where four decades of belonging to the European Union, the ceremony evoked the country’s path of European integration and noted Portugal’s contribution to a more cohesive, safer, and more solidary Europe.

"Today, we reiterate Portugal’s strong commitment to defend, enhance, and strengthen the European project, heading towards a safer, more just, more innovative and prosperous European Union, one that fosters social progress, economic growth, convergence, and cohesion, to the benefit of every citizen", as stated in the Declaration.

The document reaffirms Portugal’s alignment with the European Union’s fundamental values – human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights – and stresses the role played by European integration in the country’s political, economic, and social development.

Among the commitments stated one can find upholding the internal market and the European social model, strengthening territorial and generational cohesion, environmental protection, respect for international law, and promoting joint solutions to global challenges, such as security, misinformation, or climate change.

The Declaration also emphases the importance of a common security and defence policy, based on the cooperation and solidarity between Member States, and a more resilient Europe against external threats.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the European Council António Costa, the former President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso, the Commissioner for the celebration of 40 years of accession Carlos Coelho, as well as several personalities from the national and European political circles, current and former Members of Parliament, and members of Government.

The event, which was held in Jerónimos Monastery, included Portuguese identity cultural moments, such as fado and Alentejo chants, drawing on Portugal’s unique path in Europe and the strength of its identity in building a common European project.