Marcelo believes that the European project has been a success and is envied

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, marks Europe Day today with a message in which he considers that the European project has been a global success and is envied by others.

In a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, the Head of State states that today marks 75 years since the “Schuman Declaration”, the founding moment of the European peace project.

According to the President of the Republic, “with all its imperfections, the European construction has been a global success for its citizens and for the world, as is recognized by a majority of Europeans”.

“In Portugal, we have benefited greatly from our membership [of the European Union] 40 years ago. When we are attacked from the East and the West, it is the success of our project for a common European home that is envied, our democratic balance, our dream of all living better, in freedom and without wars,” he said.

“This is also what we want for all peoples”, says Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

In this note, the President of the Republic also mentions that Thursday marked “80 years since the end of World War II in Europe” and points out that now “another terrible war is ravaging European territory, with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine”.

The Head of State understands that, in the current situation, “it is good to remember that, over these decades, Europeans have been able to build peace together, restore democracy and freedoms, and solidify the rule of law”.

Europeans were able to “complete decolonization, respecting the right of peoples to self-determination, promoting and respecting human rights, guaranteeing well-being, equal opportunities, and constituting the vanguard of respect for nature and sustainable development”, he adds.