On 24 October 1984, in Dublin, Garrett FitzGerald (right), Irish Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, Mário Soares (left), Portuguese Prime Minister, and Lorenzo Natali, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enlargement, sign a Joint Declaration in which they express their wish for Portugal's accession to the European Communities to take effect on 1 January 1986.

These two telegrams from Portugal’s Mission to the EEC, dated 22 and 29 November 1984, inform the Portuguese Foreign Ministry of concerns in Community circles at the lack of confirmed progress in successive meetings with the applicant countries.

On 18 December 1984, with a view to Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, the European Economic Community (EEC) decides to grant financial aid to Portugal for the improvement of its agricultural and fisheries structures.

On 13 February 1985, in connection with the accession negotiations with Portugal, the Commission of the European Communities draws up a document outlining the provisions of the general and reciprocal safeguard clause for the various chapters that still need to be reviewed before the country’s accession.

On 22 March 1985, Portugal’s Mission to the EEC sends a telegram to the Foreign Ministry to inform it of the progress made in the latest negotiations between the Portuguese Delegation, the Italian Presidency and the Commission during a ‘marathon’ session of the Council of Ministers held from 17 to 21 March on the chapters relating to fisheries, agriculture, social affairs and own resources.

On 29 March 1985, Portugal’s Mission to the EEC sends a telegram to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry to inform it of the conclusion of the negotiations on Portugal’s accession to the Communities.

On 30 March 1985, the day after political agreement was reached between the Community of Ten and the two acceding countries, Spain and Portugal, the French Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité gives a mixed report of the accession negotiations.

On 16 October 1984, Portugal’s Mission to the EEC sends a telegram to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry in which it sets out the difficulties involved in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Portugal and the EEC.

On 4 May 1985, Rui Machete, Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister, delivers an address at the International Conference on the Integration of Portugal into the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 8 May 1985, the Portuguese Embassy in Madrid sends a telegram to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry announcing the conclusion of the bilateral negotiations between Portugal and Spain, thus allowing relations to be managed between the two countries in some sectors.

By resolution of 8 May 1985, the European Parliament gives its opinion on the Council's decision concerning the Community enlargement to include Spain and Portugal. The Parliament welcomes in particular the conclusion of the accession negotiations and declares its approval, with one exception, of the institutional agreements.

On 31 May 1985, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion on the applications for accession to the European Communities by Portugal and Spain.

On 10 February 1977, Francisco Sá Carneiro, Portuguese Social Democratic MP, makes a statement to the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) in which he declares his party’s (PSD) full support for Portugal’s accession to the European Communities in response to an initial positive decision taken by the Council of Ministers of the European Communities.

On 4 September 1981, Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Social Democrat Prime Minister of the eighth Portuguese Constitutional Government, outlines to the Members of the Portuguese Parliament the main thrust of his European policy, placing particular emphasis on the significant changes taking place in the country as a result of the process of accession to the European Communities.

On 11 April 1985, as debates are held in the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, the Deputy Prime Minister, Rui Machete, reviews the progress of the negotiations and welcomes the good relations between the Portuguese leaders.

On 11 April 1985, as debates are held in the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, Joaquim Jorge Magalhães Mota, MP and Member of the Independent Social Democratic Action (ASDI), emphasises the positive aspects of accession for the country’s future.

On 11 April 1985, as debates are held in the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, Raul Morais e Castro, MP and Member of the Portuguese Democratic Movement/Democratic Electoral Commission (MDP/CDE), outlines the reasons for his party’s opposition to accession.

On 11 April 1985, as debates are held in the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, Carlos Carvalhas, Member of Parliament, outlines the reasons why the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) is opposed to accession.

On 12 April 1985, as debates are held in the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, Lucas Pires, MP and Member of the Democratic and Social Centre/People’s Party (CDS/PP), considers accession to be ‘a historic event’.

On 11 June 1985, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, gives an interview to the French daily newspaper Le Monde in which he emphasises the historic significance of his country’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 12 June 1985, in Madrid and Lisbon, the representatives of the ten Member States of the European Communities and those of Spain and Portugual sign the Treaty of Accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC). The Treaty enters into force on 1 January 1986.

On 11 June 1985, the Council of the European Communities sets the conditions for Spain and Portugal's accession to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 12 June 1985, in Lisbon, the representatives of the Member States of the European Communities sign Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

Table listing the names and posts of the Ministers of the Portuguese Delegation at the ceremony held to mark the signing, on 12 June 1985 in Lisbon, of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

Programme of the official ceremonies, together with the logistical arrangements for the special flight to Lisbon and Madrid, drawn up for the signing of the Accession Treaty of Portugal and Spain to the European Communities on 12 June 1985.

On 12 June 1985, in the Belém Palace, Lisbon, General António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes, President of the Portuguese Republic, welcomes the representatives of the States signatory to Portugal's Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), signed later that day.

On 12 June 1985, in the arcaded courtyard of the Monastery of the Hieronymites in Belém, Lisbon, an official ceremony is held to mark the signing of Portugal's Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 12 June 1985, in Lisbon, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mario Soares, and his Foreign Minister, Jaime Gama, sign the Accession Treaty between Portugal and the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 12 June 1985, in Lisbon, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, welcomes the signing of Portugal's Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). In the front row, from left to right: Jacques F. Poos, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Garrett FitzGerald, Irish Prime Minister, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister (standing), Giulio Andreotti, Italian Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, Felipe González Márquez, Spanish Prime Minister, Laurent Fabius, French Prime Minister, and Yannis Haralambopoulos, Greek Foreign Minister.

On 11 June 1985, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the applications for admission of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

On 12 June 1985, at the ceremony held in Lisbon to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, outlines the role that Portugal intends to play in Community affairs.

Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, shakes hands with the President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, during the official signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities on 12 June 1985 in Lisbon.

On 12 June 1985, at the ceremony held in Lisbon to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, Giulio Andreotti, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, gives an address in which he welcomes Portugal’s accession as a victory for liberty and democratic values.

On 12 June 1985, at the ceremony held in Lisbon to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, gives an address in which he draws attention to the historic significance of the accession of a free and democratic Portugal to the European Communities.

Group photo of the representatives of the Member States after the ceremony to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities on 12 June 1985 in Lisbon.

Am 12. Juni 1985 verfolgt die RTL-Redaktion den Verlauf der diplomatischen Verhandlungen zurück, die zum Beitritt Spaniens und Portugals zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften am 1. Januar 1986 führen.

This poll was conducted in the 10 Member States of the European Community between 14 March and 22 April 1985 by the member institutes of the European Omnibus Survey. Some 9 900 people were asked the following question: ‘Thinking about Spain and Portugal joining the European Community, are you strongly for, somewhat for, somewhat against or strongly against?’

On 2 December 1985, the Portuguese Ministers talk to the future European Commissioner, António Cardoso e Cunha (second on the left). The photo shows (from left to right) the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pedro Pires de Miranda, the Minister for Planning and Territorial Administration, Luís Valente de Oliveira, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Álvaro Barreto, and the State Secretary for European Integration, Vítor Martins.

In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, describes the negative reactions, in particular from the Portuguese Communist Party and the trade unions associated with this party, to Portugal’s accession to the European Communities.

In this interview, José da Silva Lopes, former Minister for Finance and Foreign Trade, describes the reactions of the Portuguese political parties to the country’s accession to the European Communities.

On 12 June 1985, the day that Portugal's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities is signed in Lisbon, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir analyses the position of the country's fishermen and farmers.

On 12 June 1985, the day of the signing in Lisbon of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular gives an account of the proceedings at the official ceremonies.

On 12 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular reports on the words spoken by António Marta, Chairman of the Portuguese Parliament Committee on European Integration, who welcomes the way in which Portugal negotiated the terms of its accession to the European Communities while safeguarding its national interests.

On 12 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular reports on the address given in Lisbon by Lorenzo Natali, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Enlargement, who emphasises the political will of the European Communities and welcomes the courageous step of the enlargement to include the Iberian Peninsula.

On 12 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular analyses the impact of Portugal’s accession to the European Communities on the daily lives of Portuguese citizens, including consumers, tourists and farmers.

On 12 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper Correio da Manhã focuses on the preparations for the ceremony, held that day in Lisbon, to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 12 June 1985, the day of the signing in Lisbon of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular publishes parts of the address delivered to mark the occasion by Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, who places particular emphasis on the need for the Portuguese people to implement modernisation measures over the next few years.

On 12 June 1985, commenting on the ceremony held the same day in Lisbon to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, the Lisbon daily newspaper Correio da Manhã considers the expected impact of accession for the Portuguese people.

On 13 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário de Notícias reports on the official ceremony, held in Lisbon the previous day, to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 13 June 1985, the Lisbon daily newspaper O Jornal describes in detail the proceedings of the ceremony held the previous day in Lisbon to mark the signing of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 13 June 1985, the Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manhã devotes its front page to the signing, the previous day in Lisbon, of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 14 June 1985, the French daily newspaper Le Monde examines the hopes and fears of Portugal on the issue of its accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Published on 18 June 1985 in the Spanish daily newspaper El País, following the establishment by the European Commission of the Community’s preliminary draft budget for 1986, this article analyses the benefits that Spain and Portugal will receive from the various budget lines, with particular regard to the Structural Funds.

On 11 June 1985, commenting on the signing, the following day in Lisbon, of the Accession Treaty of Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), the Belgian newspaper Le Soir paints a negative picture of the country’s economic situation.

On 9 July 1985, addressing the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) in Lisbon, Ernâni Rodrigues Lopes, Portuguese Finance Minister, outlines the economic benefits that Portugal will derive from its accession to the European Communities.

On 10 July 1985, addressing the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) in Lisbon, Jaime Gama, Portuguese Foreign Minister, describes the role that Portugal will play in a European Community in the throes of change.

On 10 July 1985, in Lisbon, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mário Soares, addresses the Assembly of the Republic during the ratification of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 10 July 1985, in Lisbon, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, winds up the parliamentary debates held in the Assembly of the Republic in connection with the ratification of Portugal’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. In his address, he emphasises this historic event, which deserves the approval of all the political parties, and outlines the difficulties which must be faced by the country if it is to benefit from the advantages of accession.

On 10 June 1985, the Assembly of the Republic ratifies Portugal's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, signed on 12 June in Lisbon.

Resolution of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic of 18 September 1985 on the ratification of the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities of Spain and Portugal.