For the first time, most living Portuguese members of the European Commission, past and present, come together to discuss Portugal and the European Union. Over four decades, they have witnessed and helped to shape European integration from different political positions and policy portfolios. Together, they offer a unique perspective on how Portugal has changed through its membership of the EU – and on what the country should do next.
Has EU membership transformed Portugal as much as it could have? What has the country got right, and where has it fallen short? The discussion, moderated by Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, look beyond the achievements of the past 40 years to some of the unresolved challenges, from limited economic convergence to dependence on European funding, and ask what it would take to give Portugal’s economic and social development model a new impetus.
Finally, the Commissioners reflect on Portugal’s place in the wider world: How has European membership affected the country’s international standing and its traditional links with Africa and the Americas? And, given Portugal’s Atlantic dimension, what does the current strain in transatlantic relations mean for the country’s future?
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