In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, outlines the long process leading to Portugal’s accession to the Council of Europe and the reasons why the country was able to accede only in 1976 after democracy was restored.

In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, gives his views on the relative importance of the Portuguese Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. He explains that the Treaty of Lisbon provides for a President of the European Council elected for a term of office of two and a half years, thus putting an end to rotating Presidencies.