António Goucha Soares

Portugal and the European Union: The ups and downs in 20 years of membership

Abstract In the last 20 years, with the accession to the European Communities, Portugal has undergone a strong process of modernization. At the European level there have also been deep-seated changes, with the continuous deepening and widening of the Union. The connection between those transformations allows for the identification of three different phases that mark the relationship between Portugal and European integration: The Euro-sceptical period, the Euro-enthusiastic phase and the Euro-realistic stage. This paper intends to give an overview of the Portuguese venture in the European Union, starting with a brief reference to the accession to the Communities, and then an outline of the main phases of affiliation with the Union.

THE EUROPEANIZATION OF PORTUGAL

ABSTRACT The article aims to explore Portugals performance in some areas that can be included in a wide concept of Europeanization: the state of the economy, the rule of law, and education. It starts with a brief reference to the evolution of the Portuguese economy since the European accession to conclude that with the adoption of the single currency Portugal entered into a phase of clear economic divergence, making it an exception within the EU. Section 2 is devoted to the rule of law. It highlights how a modern and updated legal system can have an outcome that threatens some basic foundations of the rule of law, and can also contribute to increasing social inequality. The last section focuses on some problems affecting education. Particular attention is drawn to the performance of the secondary education system and to issues related to the quality of higher education institutions.ABSTRACT The article aims to explore Portugals performance in some areas that can be included in a wide concept of Europeanization: the state of the economy, the rule of law, and education. It starts with a brief reference to the evolution of the Portuguese economy since the European accession to conclude that with the adoption of the single currency Portugal entered into a phase of clear economic divergence, making it an exception within the EU. Section 2 is devoted to the rule of law. It highlights how a modern and updated legal system can have an outcome that threatens some basic foundations of the rule of law, and can also contribute to increasing social inequality. The last section focuses on some problems affecting education. Particular attention is drawn to the performance of the secondary education system and to issues related to the quality of higher education institutions.

Water-Resistance of Mortars with Lightweight Aggregates

The incorporation of lightweight aggregates in cement-based coating mortars contributes to a better performance of some of their physical properties, influencing their hygrothermal behaviour. This paper analyses the effect of some lightweight aggregates (expanded clay, granulated cork and silica aerogel) on the following mortars’ characteristics: porosity, bulk density, capillary water absorption coefficient, drying index and water vapour permeability. The experimental results showed that low percentages of incorporation of lightweight aggregates led to more porous mortars with lower bulk density, higher capillary water absorption coefficient and greater drying facility, relative to the reference cement-based mortar. The incorporation of silica aerogel in cement-based mortars resulted in major differences in terms of water resistance, with significant benefits in terms of the drying process due to their porous structure.

Voltage measurements over the CAM-1 submarine cable between Madeira Island and Portugal mainland

Data of electrical voltage measured between the ends of the CAM-1 cable, during fifteen months, have been analysed in order to determine the electrical stability of the cable and to obtain some preliminary information related to water transport. The monthly average of the potential measured during days with low geomagnetic activity suggests a periodicity of 120 days that was tentatively interpreted as having origin in water flow. These results show a small trend that is compatible with no drift in the cable. The mean electric field estimated from quiet days is 0.206 ± 0.022 mV/km. If the variations of this potential are attributable to ocean water transport a total water flow of ±0.09 cm/s is estimated. This value represents a maximum value for temporal variations of the spatially averaged water-flow velocity.

The Principle of Conferred Powers and the Division of Powers Between the European Community and the Member States

This article is a reflection about the division of powers between theEuropean Community and the Member States. It focuses on the adventuresand misadventures of the principle of conferred powers in the process ofEuropean integration. Section I is about the initial vertical divisionof powers in the European Community. Section II is dedicated to ananalysis of the progressive erosion of conferred powers during the 70sand the 80s. Section III refers to the slow return to the applicationof the conferred powers principle that started after the Single EuropeanAct.

Parametric Analysis to Study the Influence of Aerogel-Based Renders’ Components on Thermal and Mechanical Performance

Statistical models using multiple linear regression are some of the most widely used methods to study the influence of independent variables in a given phenomenon. This study’s objective is to understand the influence of the various components of aerogel-based renders on their thermal and mechanical performance, namely cement (three types), fly ash, aerial lime, silica sand, expanded clay, type of aerogel, expanded cork granules, expanded perlite, air entrainers, resins (two types), and rheological agent. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), based on 85 mortar mixes produced in the laboratory and on their values of thermal conductivity and compressive strength obtained using tests in small-scale samples. The results showed that aerial lime assumes the main role in improving the thermal conductivity of the mortars. Aerogel type, fly ash, expanded perlite and air entrainers are also relevant components for a good thermal conductivity. Expanded clay can improve the mechanical behavior and aerogel has the opposite effect.

EU Commission participation in the Troika mission: is there a European Union price to pay?

The article is intended to debate two questions regarding the involvement of the Commission in the Troikas action: firstly, considering the nature of financial assistance programs, it aims to discuss the effect of the Commissions participation in Troika negotiations on the balance of power of the EU institutions; and secondly, the article raises the issue of the Commissions liability for the results achieved by the financial assistance program, taking into account the extent of the conditions imposed, as well as the intensity of scrutiny by the Troika.

A União Europeia como potência global? As alterações do Tratado de Lisboa na política externa e de defesa

This article analyses the amendments introduced by the Lisbon Treaty concerning foreign and defense policy, in the framework of a strategy to make Europe a global power. It starts by contextualizing this policy in the acting of the European Union, and then it reviews the main changes provided by the Treaty of Lisbon.

Measurements of motinally induction voltage in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon (Portugal)

Techniques based on motional induced voltage (MIV), which is induced by the water flow across Earths magnetic field has motivated and increase of interest of oceanographers, regarding studies of large scale ocean flows. The major part of these experiences has been applied to large-scale ocean studies. This technique has been demonstrated during last decade to provide reliable information when applied to the flow monitoring in large oceanic channels. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the implementation of these techniques to smaller scales systems like the one of Ria de Aveiro lagoon (Portugal). A submarine cable crossing the channel at the entrance of the lagoon (Barra channel) allows the estimation of the water flow at this place. The preliminary analysis of the collected data shows that there is a good potential to obtain the water transport (by tidal and residual flows) through the canal by measuring the differences of electrical potential.

Shallow geoelectric structure of eastern part of Terceira Island (Acores) from AMT soundings

The Terceira Island is located at the plate boundary between the Eurasian and African plates. This plate boundary usually referred to as the Terceira axis, is a highly complex, non conventional ridge system morphologically defined by a succession of deep rhombic basins and shallow volcanic banks or islands materializing domains of higher magmatic budget (Lourenco et al., 1998).