Lecture by Margarida Marques

Portugal: 30 years in the EU

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 lands, 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.

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