Portugal

Capital: Lisbon
Population: 10.6 mill.
GDP per capita: 14 700 Euros (2006)
Schengen zone: yes
Eurozone: yes
EU-accession: 1986
Cities with European institutions or agencies: European Maritime Safety Agency (Lisbon) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Lisbon)

EU-relations: The home country of current President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, joined the European Union in 1986, together with Spain. Prior to this, Portugal's authoritarian regime made it impossible for the country to gain entry into the EC. Later on, Portugal's EU-accession was mainly a result of economic considerations: It was already closely linked to the EC and largely dependent on foreign capital in order to modernize itself. Furthermore, the prospect of receiving EU Structural Fonds played a role as well. Today, 80% of Portugal's foreign trade is made with EU-countries. During its Council Presidency in 2000, Portugal was mainly concerned with enhancing political dialogue with Africa and strengthening the EU's economic competitiveness - the Lisbon strategy has since then determined the course of the EU's economic and social policies. The Council Presidency of the second half of the year 2007 will most likely be remembered primarily for the signing of the Lisbon Treaty.

Analysis

Dark clouds gathering over the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian economies

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Henry Ford

They have each announced new austerity measures, the details of which were officially presented to the European Commission and to heads of state at the Council on 18th (...)

by - 14 July 2010

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The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of the University of Roma Tor Vergata, in partnership with Eurosduvillage group, is organizing the eighth edition of the Jean Monnet Summer Seminar a high level seminar on the functioning of the European Union addressed to graduate and Phd students as well as young civil servants. The seminar include two teaching modules lasting one week. The first module (4-8 July) will analyze the decision making process of the European Union while the second one (11-15 July) the foreign policy of the European Union. For more information and registration go to: http://www.eusummerseminar.uniroma2.it/