In a speech to the European Parliament, during a session commemorating the 40th anniversary of Portugal and Spain's accession to the then European Economic Community (EEC), Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized that the Kingdom of Portugal "was born in Europe and was born from European lineages," recalling the maternal connection of Afonso Henriques to the Kingdom of León, which would later "form the Kingdom of Spain," and the paternal connection to the Duke of Burgundy, "who would help form the Kingdom of France."

"But it was also born from lineages from other ‘Europes’, from the North, South, West, and East. And from Africa and Asia. Later, from the Americas and Oceania. In a melting pot of ethnicities, cultures, and religions," he stated.

The President of the Republic stressed that the Portuguese are "European from the roots," but these "roots were mixed, from the very beginning, with those of other continents and other universes."

"Therefore, there are no pure Portuguese. There are diverse Portuguese, in their cultural richness," he said, receiving applause from some MEPs.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that the Portuguese are "European in language, in culture, in history."

"And, because they are European, universal," he said.

Then, in a brief outline of the history of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that the country, from the 15th to the 19th and 20th centuries, lived "a constant saga in continental Europe and beyond," because, from the 15th century onwards, the Portuguese "crossed oceans" and "touched islands and continents."

“And we were, many times, happier sailing and travelling the world than in European wars,” he emphasised, noting that, with regard to Spain and Portugal, “they gained independence, fought to maintain it, lost it, and regained it.”

“Until the 17th century, it was a constant unrest. As were the continental wars in which we were involved,” he said, recalling that, in the 19th century, Portugal even had to guarantee its independence by establishing its capital in the Empire of Brazil.

“We were Europeans, but the Europe that enlightened us was not always a bearer of good news,” he summarised.

That is why, he continued, “what is truly different and remarkable is that the European integration of the 20th century, which culminated in the accession forty years ago [of Portugal], on the same day as Spain, with the leading role of Mário Soares and Felipe González, came to change History.”

“It changed European history. It changed the history of relations with our only land neighbour; it changed our history. It changed towards freedom, democracy, the rule of law, development and social justice,” he stated.

Marcelo emphasised that, “after centuries of independence based on the oceans and empire, and the inevitable and belated end of the empire, with the formation of the multicontinental and multioceanic Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), Portugal, Spain and the States that joined the EU began a new history”.

“Which has lasted almost 50 years and which would not have been possible without Europe, on the margins of Europe, against Europe. A prime example of this change is the fraternity between Portugal and Spain, eloquently witnessed here by the two heads of state, representing their respective homelands and peoples,” he said.

The President of the Republic stated that Portugal will “never, but never ever” give up on Europe.

“Because giving up on Europe would mean, for Portugal, giving up on an essential and irreplaceable part of Portugal,” he stressed.