Europe: Economic policy news in Portugal

Brussels prefers tax incentives over new corporate income tax cuts

Tax on 'windfall' profits brings no miracle for the energy crisis on the ground

Brussels analyses Portuguese request for windfall tax on energy companies

Montenegro says he has a guarantee from Brussels that Portugal will not lose PRR funds

The harm Delors did to us

An analysis of the negative impact attributed to the policies or legacy of Jacques Delors.

Governor of the Bank of Portugal advocates for a new boost to the European Single Market

The Governor of the Bank of Portugal calls for revitalising the European Single Market to foster growth and economic integration.

Jornal Económico23 Oct

What Europe after the 'Draghi Report'?

Two years after Mario Draghi warned of the risk of European economic decline, recent data suggests he was right: the EU is expected to grow by only 1.4% in 2026, roughly half the pace of the US. However, some evidence indicates that behind this stagnation, there are shifts signaling changes in the future dynamics of the Eurozone economy. The European response includes stimulus programs like NextGenerationEU and a renewed focus on competitiveness. While the industrial landscape is shifting, with traditional sectors like automotive declining, there is growth in tech, batteries, and defence. For Portugal, while the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) has aided modernisation, the country must now focus on scaling companies, attracting venture capital, and defining a clear commercial strategy beyond the EU to compete in these emerging high-productivity sectors.

ECB's Santos Pereira pushes for deeper EU integration

Reuters22 Oct

European leaders seek solution for Ukraine's 70 billion deficit in 2027

European Union (EU) leaders will meet on November 26 and 27 to seek a solution for Ukraine's financing needs in 2027, estimated at 70 billion euros, and to discuss the next community budget for the 2028-2034 period, according to a bloc official involved in the talks.

Hungary and the dark side of European funds

The Hungarian example clearly demonstrates how European funds can become deeply interconnected with the functioning of institutions.

How Europe can increase resilience to global shocks — live updates

Follow updates from inside the room at our European Resilience Summit, where we’re discussing how Europe can strengthen its ability to prosper in an increasingly fragmented world.

Cuts to the community budget: “Europe has a competitiveness problem”, but cannot “sacrifice cohesion”

Carla Tavares, co-rapporteur for the next European Union multiannual budget, criticises the Irish presidency's proposal, which is far from meeting the necessary conditions for approval by the European Parliament. Vasco Cordeiro, who presided over the Azorean government between 2012 and 2020, views the weakening of cohesion policy as a catalyst for extremism.

141 billion cut in Irish proposal keeps EU budget far from consensus

In an attempt to reconcile positions among the 27 member states and pave the way for an agreement by the end of the year, the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) proposes to reduce the next community budget by 141 billion euros (at 2025 prices). The cut of about 8% compared to the proposal of...

Volkswagen CEO makes appeal to the EU: “Competitiveness is a shared responsibility”

The CEO of Volkswagen hopes that the European Union (EU) will create the necessary foundation for the restructuring of the German automaker, which involves cutting 50,000 jobs, to be successful. On the eve of the Paris Motor Show, which begins this Monday, Oliver Blume called for support from...

Europe wants more money to spend, but no one is giving it to them

Ireland presented its proposal this Saturday for the next European budgetary framework, which runs until 2034, but critical reactions anticipate a very difficult European Summit. The money is not enough.

Ireland’s budget cuts weaken EU, Commission warns

Dublin's changes to the long-term budget overwhelmingly hit Commission priorities such as competitiveness and flexibility.

"Their energy policy was a failure": US Treasury Secretary attacks Europe

Scott Bessent accuses European countries of continuing to fund Moscow due to their energy dependence on Russia. The US Treasury Secretary further guarantees that the Trump administration will use all available legal authorities to maintain the Russian diesel supply agreement.

Ireland wants to close EU budget by Christmas with 8% cuts

The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union has proposed an 8% cut to the 2028-2034 multiannual budget, totalling 1.62 trillion euros, while protecting cohesion and agricultural funds. Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne stated that the proposal seeks a definitive agreement among EU leaders by Christmas to ensure the framework is ready by January 1, 2028.

Cohesion and Agriculture: the priorities of Portugal and the European Parliament for the EU Budget

The Irish Presidency's proposal for the next long-term European Union budget will be known this Saturday. The divide between Cohesion countries and the frugal countries remains. The European Parliament is calling for a budget with greater funding and ambition.

Portuguese MEPs call for EU response to cost of living

Members of the European Parliament from Portugal are urging the European Union to take action regarding the rising cost of living.

SÁBADO7 Oct

China asks Paris and Berlin not to encourage protectionism

The statements were released after the European Commission accepted a proposal from France and Germany for new protection instruments against unfair trade practices from third countries.

10h Montenegro calls on Europe for a more competitive budget

Prime Minister Montenegro urges European leaders to prioritise a more competitive budgetary framework.

Portugal and 16 other EU countries admit new common debt to finance Common Agricultural and Cohesion Policy

As negotiations on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) enter a decisive phase, the heads of state and government of 17 member states, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, want the Cohesion Policy to be strengthened and valued.

Governments brace for €100B cut to EU budget proposal

The Irish presidency is expected to slash the Commission’s near-€2 trillion proposal as capitals remain deeply divided over spending.

“European values” on the razor's edge of economic governance

The aggressive offensive of US imperialism spreads war and destruction worldwide. US and Israeli aggression against Iran has global economic consequences, including fuel supply disruptions. The European Union remains submissive to the US, supporting its military aggression and violations of international law. While EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas parrots Trump's pretexts regarding Iranian nuclear ambitions, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen laments the €90 billion increase in EU fuel costs. Economic groups and multinationals profit from the war, while the public suffers from rising costs. The EU refuses to challenge US actions, instead enforcing 'economic governance' rules that restrict national sovereignty and impose neoliberal policies. In this climate, state intervention is crucial, yet the EU uses these governance mechanisms to threaten member states against implementing necessary wage increases and price controls. Defeating this agenda requires challenging the EU's restrictive economic framework.

European Union should create joint actions for fuels and fertilisers, argues Minister of Agriculture in Brussels

In a time of crisis, the Minister of Agriculture came to Brussels to present and solidify some of Portugal's proposals for the agricultural sector.

11 countries push for pause on new EU laws

“We can’t go on tabling new legislative proposals when existing rules have not been fully implemented,” says Austria's Europe minister.

Metsola's Europe

I spent the last few days at the European Parliament in Brussels, amidst debates, meetings, and conversations with several of the key figures of this legislative term. I returned with an impression that is hard to ignore: competitiveness has become the new grammar of European politics. Energy, industry, investment, simplification, economic security – almost all major choices are now discussed from the same perspective.

Brussels available to resume proposal on the use of frozen Russian assets

The European Commission said today it is available to resume discussions on the use of frozen Russian sovereign assets to financially support Ukraine, admitting it will analyse “different modalities” to reach a consensus within the European Union (EU). “On the part of the European Commission, we have been very clear. We already presented a legislative proposal last year...”