A welcome incentive: Pre-accession aid to Portugal within the context of the Iberian enlargement

Abstract

Portugal’s negotiations for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) took place at the same time as the country negotiated and implemented the pre-accession aid programme that aimed at the development of the Portuguese economy. In a historical context where the concept of a pre-accession strategy did not officially exist as such, the EEC was already establishing the basis for the future Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) which similarly aimed at preparing candidates to fulfil their obligations as member states. Taking stock of the existing literature on enlargement and benefiting from further archive research, this article aims to analyse how the granting of pre-accession aid was negotiated between the EEC and Portugal and to make a concise assessment of its implementation in the country.