In 2006, Portugal celebrated the 20th anniversary of accession to the European Union.

Two decades on, and that after a negotiation process that itself lasted almost ten years with progress, setbacks and uncertainties, the balance of integration into Europe has been extremely positive for our country.

Comparative data for the EU and Portugal over the past twenty years show a clear correlation between the indices of mean development for the Community and our own indices of development.

But if Europe has changed Portugal, it is also true that Portugal has changed Europe.

Our accession strengthened the Atlantic vocation of the European continent, and at the same time opened new prospects in Africa and America. Portugal, with its historical and ongoing relations with the countries of those continents, contributed not only to a rethink of the EU's priorities in external policy, but also provided Europe with a far more inclusive capital of cultural diversity.

At two critical periods in the history of the building of Europe during those 20 years, in 1992 and in 2000, Portugal presided the Council of the European Union.

In 1992 the ratification and entry into force of the Treaty on European Union, and in 2000 the European Agenda for Economic and Social Development (the «Lisbon Strategy»), formed a legacy showing the importance the Portuguese presidencies attached to the future of the EU.

Now, as Portugal leads for the third time the principal decision-making body of the European Union, here are a few brief notes on the Conclusions of the previous Portuguese Presidencies of the Council, in 1992 and 2000.

Exhibition 20 years in the EU: «Portugal and Spain: Twenty years of European integration»