In June 1993, the Lisbon-based magazine Expansão publishes an article by Mário Soares, President of the Portuguese Republic, in which he gives an assessment of the economic and political situation eight years after Portugal’s accession to the European Communities.

On 19 October 1990, at the opening session of the conference on ‘Portugal in the European Community of the future’, held in Lisbon by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, delivers an address in which he considers the implications of the establishment of the internal market and of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the definition of the political and institutional dimension of the Community.

On 1 January 1986, the day on which Portugal officially accedes to the European Communities, the Portuguese daily newspaper Diário de Notícias analyses the impact of accession on foreign investment in Portugal.

On 13 July 1987, the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel reports that Portugal is still struggling to overcome its economic deficit and combat poverty despite the new public funding awarded by the Community institutions.

On 28 March 1977, Mário Soares, Prime Minister of Portugal, formally submits his country’s application for accession to the European Communities to David Owen, currently President-in-Office of the Council.

On 6 June 1978, the Council of the European Communities delivers a favourable opinion on Portugal’s application for accession to 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 March 1977, during a visit to the European Commission, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, delivers an address in which he describes his country’s accession to the European Communities as an economic and political challenge.

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 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.