On 22 February, the European Commissioner for Citizenship Viviane Reding will visit Coimbra to discuss with Portuguese citizens, about the future of Europe.

“We're giving citizens in Portugal the unique possibility to tell European decision-makers directly about their worries and dreams for the future of the European Union and Portugal's future within that Union,” said Vice-President Viviane Reding.

Mrs. Reding highlighted the need for “democratic legitimacy” if the EU wants to proceed with its ambitious policy agenda. Commissioner for Citizenship promised to listen to what the Portuguese citizens have to say stressing that the Portuguese “have made huge sacrifices to ensure that future generations won't pick up the bill for past generations' mistakes.”

Reding, defended the political choices of the Commission saying that optimism in Europe is growing. Regarding Portugal she stressed that the Portuguese authorities together with the Commission, will “implement an ambitious reform of the justice sector which will improve investor's confidence and will therefore have a positive impact on the business climate.”

According to CIA World Factbook, Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-oriented based economy, as it lacks a strong manufacturing sector. In 2009 the Portuguese economy contracted 2.5 per cent in 2009, before growing 1.4 per cent in 2010. However, the national GDP fell again in 2011 and 2012, as the government began implementing the reforms suggested by EU and IMF. Portuguese GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average, together with Greece and Slovakia .

According to Eurostat, in 2011, 24.4 per cent of the Portuguese population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion .