Foundation takes part in the kick-off of the European FREI project

On 27 and 28 May 2025, the first international meeting of the FREI project - From Resistance to European Integration - took place in Vienna, an initiative funded by the European Union's CERV - Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values programme.

This European project brings together partners from Austria, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Romania, with the aim of promoting debate on the historical transitions to democracy and the construction of a European citizenship based on human rights.

Over the course of two days, the meeting included speeches by experts, representatives of civil society and a visit to historical sites in Vienna.

The speech by the Mário Soares and Maria Barroso Foundation, entitled ‘Unarchiving Democracy: Youth, Post-Colonial Memory and the Portuguese Democratic Path’, highlighted Portugal's democratic journey from the Carnation Revolution to European integration, as well as the contemporary challenges posed to the exercise of citizenship and the inclusion of new generations, particularly young people with post-colonial origins.

The Foundation's presence in Vienna was represented by a delegation of six people, made up of students, researchers, archive professionals and association leaders, underlining the institution's commitment to a participatory, critical and inclusive approach to memory and democracy.

The FREI project runs until March 2027, culminating in a final conference at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where the results of the activities carried out and proposals for strengthening democratic citizenship in contemporary Europe will be presented.