Portugal ratifies the Lisbon Treaty

Further information:

The Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Treaty, despite the 'No' votes from the Communist Party, the Left Bloc and the Greens. These parties argued the document was against the country's sovereign interests and should therefore have been subject to a popular referendum.

Eight other member states had already ratified the Treaty: Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Malta, Romania and Slovenia.

The Portuguese Parliament approved on 23 April 2008 the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, becoming the ninth member state to do so. The country's endorsement of the document was welcomed by both the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

• Primary Source

The Irish Times, 23.04.08: Portugal approves Lisbon Treaty https://www.irishtimes.com/news/portugal-approves-lisbon-treaty-1.821674

Council of the European Union: Presidency: Press Release, 24.04.08: Slovenian Presidency welcomes the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Portuguese parliament http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/Press_Releases/April/0424SVEZ_Pogodba_Portugalska.html

Expresso, 23.04.08: Portugal ratifica hoje Tratado de Lisboa [in Portuguese] http://expresso.sapo.pt/dossies/dossiest_actualidade/dos_express_europa/portugal-ratifica-hoje-tratado-de-lisboa=f301864

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