In its report dated 2 February 1977, the ad hoc Working Party established by the Permanent Representatives Committee on 20 January 1977 gives its views on future relations with Portugal, in particular on the definition of a joint line of approach to be adopted during the visit by Mário Soares to Europe’s capital cities, the various models for negotiations and the various possible solutions for Portugal’s accession to the European Communities.

In this note dated 9 February 1977, the General Secretariat of the Council outlines the common position to be adopted in order to reply to Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, during his visits to the capital cities of the Nine.

On 9 February 1977, Portugal’s Mission to the EEC sends a telegram to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry announcing that the Council and the Permanent Representatives of the Member States have agreed on a common platform for discussion with the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mário Soares, during his visit to the European capital cities.

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.

Dated 24 February 1977, this telegram, sent to Portugal's Ambassadors and Diplomatic Missions to the EEC by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports on the visit by Portuguese Prime Minister, Mário Soares, to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Italy.

On 7–8 March 1977, Emanuele Gazzo, Editor-in-Chief of Agence Europe, emphasises the need for the Nine to give a clear and rapid political response to Portugal’s forthcoming application for accession to the European Communities.

On 8 March 1977, the French daily newspaper L’Aurore welcomes the unwavering commitment to Europe of Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister.

On 10 March 1977, the European Investment Bank issues a press release on the visit of Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to the seat of the institution as part of his tour of the European capital cities.

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 11 March 1977, Roy Jenkins (left), President of the European Commission, welcomes to Brussels Mário Soares (centre), Portuguese Prime Minister, during his tour of the capitals of the nine Member States of the European Communities, to which Portugal is to submit its official application for accession on 28 March.

On 12 March 1977, in Brussels, Mário Soares pays a visit to the Economic and Social Committee (ESC).

Dated 18 March 1977, this telegram, sent to Portugal's Mission to the EEC by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports on the visit of the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mário Soares, to various European capitals.

On 18 March 1977, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, makes a statement to the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) on the proposed accession of Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and outlines the outcome of his tour of the capital cities of the nine Member States of the European Communities.

On 18 March 1977, Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, returns to Lisbon after having toured the European capital cities in order to present Portugal’s application for accession to the European Communities.

On 2 February 1977, while Portugal is preparing to apply for accession to the European Communities, Communist MP Carlos Carvalhas delivers an address to the Assembly of the Republic in which he considers the crisis affecting capitalist countries and gives a negative assessment of the economic situation in Europe.

Portugal’s application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), dated 28 March 1977, forwarded by Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

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.

Portugal’s application for accession to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), dated 28 March 1977, sent by Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

Portugal’s application for accession to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), dated 28 March 1977, sent by Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

On 28 March 1977, José Medeiros Ferreira, Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, sends a letter to David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, informing him of the submission of Portugal’s official applications for accession to the Communities.

On 28 March 1977, the Council of the European Communities announces to the press the submission of Portugal’s formal applications for accession to the Communities pursuant to Article 297 of the EEC Treaty, Article 205 of the EAEC Treaty and Article 98 of the ECSC Treaty.

Portugal’s application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), dated 28 March 1977, forwarded by Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, and acknowledgment of receipt from David Owen dated 5 April 1977.

On 29 March 1977, the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário de Notícias comments on the political implications of the visit of Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, to his Norwegian counterpart, Odvar Nordli.

On 5 April 1977, David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, acknowledges receipt of Portugal’s formal application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 5 April 1977, David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, acknowledges receipt of Portugal’s formal application for accession to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).

On 5 April 1977, David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, acknowledges receipt of Portugal’s formal application for accession to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 5 April 1977, David Owen, President-in-Office of the Council, acknowledges receipt of the letter from the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Medeiros Ferreira, dated 28 March 1977, informing him of the submission of Portugal’s official applications for accession to the Communities.

In a memorandum dated 25 August 1977, the Portuguese Foreign Ministry analyses developments in the process for the accession of Portugal to the European Communities since its official application was submitted in March of that year.

In his letter dated 14 October 1977 and forwarded to the President of the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission, Wilhelm Haferkamp, welcomes the application for accession to the Community of three Mediterranean countries. However, he emphasises some difficulties inherent in these regions which the Community will have to resolve, in particular problems surrounding agriculture.

Working document from the Commission annexed to the letter, dated 14 October 1977, forwarded to the President of the Council by the Vice-President of the Commission, Wilhelm Haferkamp. This working document includes general guidelines which seek to address the problems facing agriculture in the Mediterranean regions of the Community before any enlargement to include countries experiencing such difficulties takes place.

In this statement made at the 474th meeting of the Council, held in Luxembourg on 17 and 18 October 1977, the President of the Commission of the European Communities, Roy Jenkins, emphasises the problems associated with the possible accession of Greece, Portugal and Spain.

Confidential note from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 2 November 1977, on the problems of the enlargement of the European Communities and the accession of Portugal.

On 10 November 1977, the President of the European Commission, Roy Jenkins, alongside Portuguese Prime Minister Mário Soares, delivers an address during his visit to Lisbon.

Roy Jenkins, President of the European Commission, at a meeting with Mário Soares, Portuguese Prime Minister, Vítor Constâcio, Chairman of the Portuguese Committee on European Integration, and Ambassador Siqueira Freire in Lisbon on 11 November 1977.

In this interview, José Medeiros Ferreira, former Portuguese Foreign Minister, gives the reasons why Portugal applied for accession to the European Communities in 1977 following the transitional period between the end of the dictatorship and the establishment of democracy.