Alvaro Cunhal On the EU

The Common Market in crisis and the price required to Portugal

"It is an idyllic vision to imagine that the Common Market is an association of rich philanthropic ready to" help "the most backward countries.

"I would like to make three points about this.

"The first: the Common Market countries defend their own interests and those interests are ready to sacrifice the interests of other countries.

"When you defend or admit enlargement of the Common Market in Portugal, Spain and Greece, it's not to help countries that are outside, but that the entry of these countries serve the interests of the nine that are already there inside."

"The second observation: the reactionary forces seek to present the Common Market as an area of ​​development, progress, welfare and full employment."

"Instead of harmonious, balanced and progressive - is accentuated inequality of development, stagnation, recession in key sectors and progressive decrease in the rate of overall development.

"Instead of the gradual increase in production capacity - increasing spare non used capacity."

"The third observation: the problems existing in the Common Market, the integration of Portugal would weigh on our country's crisis numerous factors just mentioned.

"The Common Market would seek to stagnate, submit, or settle to absorb sectors of the Portuguese economy in sectors competing with the same sectors in crisis in the Common Market.

"The Common Market would seek to hinder economic development in Portugal, aimed at exploiting the natural resources of our country and seek appropriate Portuguese resources."

"Such an association in terms of inequality and without reciprocal advantages is of no interest to Portugal. Therefore we are against. "

Statement by Alvaro Cunhal, the Conference of PCP Portugal and Common Market,
Porto, 31 May 1980, p. 14-16

PS: PCP = Portuguese Communist Party

History has clearly vindicated Álvaro Cunhal.

I'm curious as to what the current PCP stance is regarding the European Union.

I can tell you that it didn't change. They still believe it was a mistake to join, and that our nations interests, and it's workers interests are not uphold by them in any way.