The very first Spanish and Portuguese MEPs, Fernando Amaral and Carlos Westendorp (right) arrive in Strasbourg, where they are welcomed by the President of the European Parliament, Pierre Pflimlin.

On 20 June 1994, Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral (right), Portuguese Minister for Public Works, Transport and Communications, and Domingos Duarte Lima (left), Social Democrat MP, visit the building site of the section of motorway under construction between Penafiel and Amarante made possible with the support of Community funding.

On 26 and 27 June 1992, the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve meet in Lisbon for a European Council, at the end of which they confirm their commitment to see the Treaty on European Union enter into force on 1 January 1993 and their wish to prepare the enlargement of the EU to include the applicant countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

On 7 February 1992, in Maastricht, João de Deus Pinheiro (left), Portuguese Foreign Minister, and Jorge Braga de Macedo (right), Portuguese Finance Minister, sign the Treaty on European Union.

On 3 January 1992, in Lisbon, Mário Soares (right), President of the Portuguese Republic, Aníbal António Cavaco Silva (left), Portuguese Prime Minister, and Pedro Santana Lopes (centre), Portuguese Junior Minister for Culture, take part in the opening ceremony for the first Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.

In August 1991, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique analyses the consequences for the country's economy and society of Portugual's accession to the European Communities on 1 January 1986.

In March 1990, the Portuguese economic affairs magazine Cadernos de Economia provides an economic assessment of Portugal's first four years of membership of the European Communities.

On 24 November 1989, at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, Portuguese Prime Minister, delivers an address in which he places particular emphasis on Portugal's role in the development of a European identity.

On 2 January 1986, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário Popular reports on the New Year address delivered by Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, Portuguese Prime Minister, for whom the accession of Portugal to the European Communities, after several long years of negotiation, is synonymous with hope for the Portuguese people and heralds a further opening of the country to the world.

On 6 April 1987, during the official visit to Portugal by François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, delivers an address in which he emphasises the age-old relations between France and Portugal and the need to strengthen joint efforts within the European Economic Community (EEC).