Mário Soares fought against the Portuguese dictatorship from a very young age. He became involved in opposition movements, joined the Portuguese Communist Party, wrote and co-signed the main manifestos against the regime, took active part in the candidacies of Norton de Matos and Humberto Delgado for the Presidency of the Republic, was founder and leader of Acção Socialista Portuguesa (Portuguese Socialist Action) and of the Socialist Party and, in the ranks of the democratic opposition, was a candidate for the legislative elections.

For all this, he was arrested 12 times, deported to the island of São Tomé by order of Salazar, and became a political exile, in Paris, since 1970. The European issue was present in his thinking and reflections and was behind the battles he fought. Mário Soares believed that the struggle for a free and democratic Portugal implied a European Portugal, the same way that the European option could not be fully materialized without fulfilling the first premise.

Hence his denunciation of the Portuguese authoritarian regime to the international community, particularly seeking the support of the Member States of the European Community and of the great figures of European democracies. His voice of protest and indignation against a Europe that showed complacency towards dictatorships was heard in many addresses at congresses and conferences, especially those organized under the aegis of the Socialist International, the European Socialist Parties, or the European Federalist Movement. Let us especially mention the speech he gave at the Council of Europe, in 1970, referring to the violation of human rights in Portugal, and in which he stated: “We, as democrats, wish to join Europe – because it is in our best interest, as well as in the interest of democratic Europe”.

Mário Soares made this position clear also in his writings, in the book Portugal Amordaçado (“Portugal’s Struggle for Liberty”), which he published in France in 1972, and in the various articles he wrote for the national and international press. In one of those articles, which at the time was cut by the Portuguese censorship, he stated: “I am in favour of a Europe of workers, one that will have to be built gradually, by developing democracy in each European country. I believe that the correct attitude for left-wing political parties is to join the construction of Europe”.

In 1973 he founded the Socialist Party (PS, Partido Socialista), laying down in his initial program the foundations of a European policy, choosing to get closer to Europe as an instrument to transform a country that had been living under a dictatorship for almost five decades.

Mário Soares was the first political exile to return to Portugal after the Armed Forces Movement coup that, on April 25th, 1974, toppled the dictatorship. He arrived in Lisbon on the 28th, travelling on the “freedom train”, and there was a crowd waiting that greeted and cheered him.

The times that followed led Soares to assert himself more and more as a European leader, at the same time that he became the Portuguese politician with greater international recognition. After the rally that took place on the 1st of May, he was given the task of obtaining international recognition for the Portuguese revolution, by visiting the main European capitals, where he met François Mitterrand, Harold Wilson, Olof Palme, Willy Brandt, Joop Den Uyl, and Trygve Bratteli.

Being appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the first three Provisional Governments (1974-1975), he developed a wide-ranging diplomatic action in order to open Portugal to the outside, establishing relations with countless countries, and started the decolonization process, for which he had fought so hard. In September 1974, speaking for the first time before the General Assembly of the United Nations, he said: “I want to make it very clear that the free and democratic Portugal we are building, with great difficulties, but encouraged by the confidence shown by our entire people, now begins to feel proudly accompanied”.

Establishing deeper commercial and political relations with the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) was a priority. Aware of the Portuguese economy’s delicate situation, Soares developed a skilful approach to the EEC, highlighting the country’s position as a link between Europe and Africa. At the same time, the contacts established were translated into international support, particularly from European socialists to the Socialist Party, a young party still being shaped.

In a period during which in Portugal political-military clashes became more intense, Mário Soares asserted himself as the better-known political face of the defence put up in favour of a pluralist democracy for the future of the country. He was the leader of the party that won the first free Portuguese elections – for the Constituent Assembly, on April 25th, 1975 – leaving no doubt as to where he stood, namely in the conflicts that pitted him against the Prime Minister, Vasco Gonçalves, and the leader of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Álvaro Cunhal. The end of the revolution, on November 25th, 1975, and the institutionalization of democracy brought about the political and social conditions for Mário Soares and the Socialist Party to place a future accession to the European Communities as a major objective.

The European option indelibly marked the Socialist Party’s campaign for the 1976 legislative elections. Full and immediate accession to the EEC was inscribed in the “Program for a PS Government” as a fundamental and strategic goal, and the slogan created for the campaign endorsed that path: all over the country, from north to south, by the side of the roads, A Europa Connosco (“Europe with Us”) was present in flags, posters, stickers and, above all, in speeches delivered at large rallies or improvised gatherings, but always with a high influx of people.

This strategy’s highest moment took place in March 1976 with the organization of a Summit at the Crystal Palace, in Porto, with the same motto: “Europe with Us”. The PS meant to make Porto the socialist capital of Europe and, therefore, invited the main European socialist and social democratic leaders, who accepted the challenge. During three days, Willy Brandt, François Mitterrand, Bruno Kreisky, Felipe González, Francesco de Martino, Josep Den Uyl, Olof Palme, and Hans Janitschek addressed a pavilion completely full of people.

In a truly historic event, Portugal’s path towards the European Communities gained strength and the PS acquired a national and European recognition that let it further consolidate itself. Before the participants in the congress, Soares declared: “The new Portugal is deeply committed to the transformation of Portuguese society on democratic and socialist bases. To rethink Portugal and its future involves rethinking the Europe which Portugal wants to join.”

On April 25th, 1976, the PS again won the elections. In July, Mário Soares assumed the post of Prime Minister, and, without surprise, joining the European Council and the accession to the EEC were inscribed as priorities in the First Constitutional Government’s program. In view of the doubts raised by some politicians and economists regarding Portugal’s conditions to move forward with the application for accession, Soares did not hesitate and endeavoured to collect the support needed to achieve that great objective.

In September 1976, Portugal joined the Council of Europe, having meanwhile signed an Additional Protocol to the 1972 Agreement with the European Economic Community and, subsequently, the European Convention on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with the United Nations.

On the way to join Europe, diplomatic action was intensifying on all fronts.

Having embraced Portugal’s accession to the EEC as one of the great programmatic objectives of the First Government, Prime Minister Mário Soares sought to obtain support from EEC Member States. To this purpose, he met with the respective heads of state during two rounds of visits he made to European capitals, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Medeiros Ferreira, and the President of the Commission for European Integration, Vítor Constâncio.

The first round started on February 15th, in London. Prime Minister James Callaghan’s response could not have been better: “We know that there will be many practical difficulties to overcome in building Portugal’s future in the Community. But you will have the full support of the British Government in your efforts, and we look forward to the moment when Portugal will be able to take its full place within the European Community”. The round of visits ended in Brussels, on March 12th. Despite the obstacles evoked and the challenges posed to the Portuguese Government, the balance was quite positive. The Prime Minister now faced this “enormous task”, in the words of the Financial Times.

Returning to Portugal, Mário Soares reported to the country that “all the misgivings put to us were more or less overcome”, revealing the support and understanding he had received from the various countries. There was no doubt that it was time to move forward. After presenting the results of the European rounds and obtaining the assent of the Assembly of the Republic, it was up to Prime Minister Mário Soares to address, to the President of the Council of the European Communities, Portugal’s formal application for accession to the European Communities (ECSC, EEC and EAEC).

Portugal’s application for accession to the European Communities was formally accepted on April 5th, 1977. Formal negotiations began in October 1978, a process that included Spain, since it was decided that both countries “should join the EEC simultaneously”.

Work meetings followed one another, as did visits to Portugal by EEC politicians and technicians. The weak Portuguese economic development was going to be one of the most complex issues. But many other matters were the subject of intense negotiations, with particular emphasis on social issues, agriculture, fisheries or transport and infrastructures.

The negotiations calendar underwent changes, as did the estimates as to the date the process would be completed. The succeeding heads of Portuguese Governments and the holders of the Foreign Affairs portfolio multiplied the contacts with their European counterparts, trying to speed up negotiations.

In 1983, taking over again as Prime Minister (IX Government), Mário Soares, dissatisfied with the sluggishness of the process, put pressure on the European Community to take a decision regarding Portugal’s accession.

With Jaime Gama, in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ernâni Lopes, as Minister for Finance and Planning, negotiations sped up and the manifold files were closed one by one. In October 1984, after the Fontainebleau Summit, Mário Soares signed, in Dublin, the “Constat d’Accord” that marked the end of the negotiations and ratified the date for Portugal’s accession to the EEC: January 1st, 1986. The final political agreement was reached in Brussels in March 1985. At last, the following month, at the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Minister closed the debate on this fundamental moment of Portugal’s recent history.

On June 12th, 1985, Prime Minister Mário Soares signed the Treaty of Accession to the EEC.

Considering the imminent fall of the Central Bloc Government (PS plus PSD, the Social Democratic Party), the Portuguese political situation was very instable. Although the date of the ceremony had already been set, it only became effectively possible after conducting negotiations with the newly elected leader of the PSD, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, who wanted a postponement. In the end, the Social-Democratic ministers accepted to tender their resignations only the day after the signing. Thus, Portugal’s Treaty of Accession – together with that of Spain – was signed on the scheduled day.

The signing ceremony was held at the Jerónimos Monastery, after a welcoming session at the Tower of Belém and another session to present greetings to the President of the Republic. The EEC delegation consisted of its President, Jacques Delors, Commissioner Lorenzo Natali, Secretary-General Emile Noel and other figures.

The treaty was signed by Prime Minister Mário Soares, Deputy Prime Minister Rui Machete, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Gama, and the Minister for Finance and Planning, Ernâni Lopes.

It was an historic moment for both Portugal and Europe, as laid down by Mário Soares’ speech: “I am honoured to have been the one to sign, on behalf of the Government of the Republic, Portugal’s application for accession to the EEC, in March 1977. Eight years later, after closing the negotiation process, which was lengthy and difficult, but that, as everyone recognizes, was successful, I now have the historic opportunity to sign the Treaty of Accession. We did it!”

Diário de Lisboa June 12th, 1985. FMSMB / Ruella Ramos Archive.

Mário Soares was elected President of the Republic in 1986. He monitored the process of Portugal’s integration into the European Communities, intervening at crucial moments to uphold his political vision of Europe, often as a counterbalance to the ideas of the contemporary Government, which he thought was too concerned with economic aspects.

Soares continually insisted that Portugal would have to be a key player in Europe, alongside the other Member States. A voice heard and respected, that contributed to the development of the European project. He underlined his idea of ​​Portugal’s original contribution to the European Union: a dual and reciprocal role as Europe’s link with Brazil and with Portuguese-speaking African countries, but also as Europe’s representative to all those countries.

In Mário Soares’ thinking, the Europe of freedom, equality and fraternity was always present, a Europe of citizens, culture and critical thinking, values ​​that he proclaimed in successive public speeches and by assuming and performing various offices. He was Chairman of the Committee of Wise Persons of the Council of Europe, Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Movement International, he defended a federalist Europe and the proposal of a European Constitution.

News article published in the Jornal de Notícias for February 2nd, 1999, announcing Mário Soares as head of the Socialist Party’s list for the European elections. FMSMB / Mário Soares Archive.

Notícia do Diário de Notícias de 10 de janeiro de 1999 sobre a reunião do grupo "Notre Europe", presidida por Jacques Delors, que teve lugar na Fundação Mário Soares no mês seguinte, a 19 e 20 de fevereiro de 1999. FMSMB / Arquivo Mário Soares.

A letter from journalist Vicente Jorge Silva to Mário Soares, published in the Diário de Notícias for January 29th, 1999. FMSMB / Mário Soares Archive.

Soares wrote, thought and debated about Europe until the end of his life. In recent years he was very critical and disenchanted with the European project, considering that it had been captured by neoliberal doctrines, and was no longer a project centred on freedom, unity and solidarity. He believed that this was destroying Europe and that it jeopardized democracy itself, and therefore it was necessary to recover the roots that presided over the creation of the European Community and its founders’ ideals.

He always believed in Europe as the future: “In the face of difficulties, we must defend more Europe. (...) Let us promote the ‘Europe of Citizens’ and the ‘Social Europe’, insisting on the reform and improvement of the European social model, as one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century that cannot be called into question, in the 21st century, by dubious economic criteria”.