The Portuguese Presidency of the European Union 4.0

Abstract

[Excerpt] From the southwestern periphery of the European Union (EU), Portugal is presiding over the EU Council in the first half of 2021 for the fourth time after 1992, 2000 and 2007. Despite being geographically peripheral and small, since its membership in 1986, the country has been an active supporter of deepening European integration. Understood as a way towards modernization after decades of authoritarian rule – both in the sense of reinforcing its democratic process after the Carnation revolution in 1974, but mostly as a way to access economic development – Lisbon has assumed a strong commitment vis-à-vis the EU. Since the mid-80s, even against the backdrop of crisis, and particularly during the 2011- 2015 bailout, Portuguese public opinion polls have constantly maintained a positive view on EU membership.