COLLOQUIUM | A NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP SERVICE FOR PORTUGAL

3 Jun 2025 - 09:30

Auditorium 1

Since 2021, SEDES has been advocating for the creation of a National Citizenship Service (SNC) in Portugal. Following work carried out by its members within the scope of OS&D, a preliminary model for Portugal was presented in 2024. On the other hand, a SEDES opinion poll carried out in March 2024 (Vozes de Portugal – Pitagórica) was in favour of the creation of a “mandatory” SNC by 63% (19% totally agree and 44% agree) where young people could serve a defence/security or national interest institution. The proposed SNC model would tend to be general and universal, would be integrated into the national education system, would have a duration of between 6 and 12 months and would cover a diverse range of areas of activity, including security and defence, health and education, social support and justice, among others. The proposal presented by the OS&D of SEDES is merely a starting point for the necessary discussion, and is subject to scrutiny by all those who are truly interested in national progress, security and well-being.

09:30- 09:55
Opening:
António de Lencastre Bernardo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Autonomous Group (TBC)
Alvaro Beleza, President of SEDES
Miguel Guimarães, Chairman of the Board of AACDN

10:00-11:00
Panel 1, Citizenship Today, in Europe and Portugal
Moderator: António Paulo Duarte (Military Academy and OS&D SEDES)
Luís Miguel Gonçalves (Professor and Coordinator of European Citizenship Education Projects)
Rui Trindade (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of UP)

11:15-12:10
Round Table, Young People and the SEDES SNC model
Moderators: Luís Pascoal and Sónia Sénica (OS&D SEDES)
Diogo Maltez Oliveira, President of the AAUAL CE
Representatives of the Youth Parties (JS, JSD, JP, JCP, JChega…) (TBC)
João Perestrelo, SEDES Youth Coordinator

12:15-12:45
Closing Conference
“Challenges and Opportunities of a SNC in Portugal”
Nuno Severiano Teixeira, Full Professor (former MDN, MAI and Director of IDN) (TBC)

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