'Portugal, on the other hand, is one of the least influential of the EU's 27 member states'

"We have to get over this idea that we own the language," said Saramago, 85. "The language is owned by those who speak it, for better or for worse."

"We used to be the colony, and all of a sudden we are the ones colonizing them. That's going to be strange."

Portugal's former empire is striking back - through language [se fosse só por isso ...]