Portugal Joins the European Community

1986

Portugal's accession to the European Economic Community (now the European Union) on 1 January 1986 had a transformative effect on the Algarve. EU structural funds poured into the region, financing the construction of the A22 motorway, the modernisation of the EN125, improvements to water and sewage infrastructure, the expansion of Faro Airport, and the construction of schools and hospitals. The Via do Infante (A22), completed in stages through the 1990s and 2000s, replaced the tortuous EN125 as the main east-west route and cut journey times across the region dramatically. EU membership also facilitated freedom of movement, making it easier for northern Europeans to buy property and settle in the Algarve. The region's GDP per capita rose significantly in the decades following accession, though it remained below the national average. EU environmental regulations also improved water quality, beach management, and coastal protection.