Latest news and stories about eu policy in europe in Portugal for expats and residents.
Leaders of EU countries meet to discuss a loan to Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.
Member countries warn of mass speculation as bloc gears up to bulk buy gas before winter.
The demands from the Movement for the Tagus for favourable ecological flow regimes come after two years without receiving a 'substantive' or even 'definitive' response from the European Commission body.
The agreement signed by Donald Trump and Von der Leyen in Scotland is still awaiting ratification by the European Parliament. Decisions are expected to begin this week.
Trade expert Ignacio García Bercero advises the EU to pursue a conditional agreement with the US, citing ongoing uncertainty regarding the Trump administration's tariff policies as the European Parliament prepares to deliberate on the Turnberry deal.
Christians constitute the most persecuted religious community in the world; about five thousand were murdered because of their faith in the year 2025.
The derogation that allows platforms to track child sexual abuse content expires on April 3rd. Without an EU agreement, reports could fall by half.
Organisations condemn the “conscious failure of political decision-makers” in the Union to detect this type of content.
Les dirigeants européens espéraient se concentrer sur les problèmes de compétitivité à long terme de l’Union. Au lieu de cela, ils devront trouver des solutions aux crises en cours.
After agreeing to help get Russian oil flowing again, Brussels and Kyiv hope for a Ukraine loan breakthrough at Thursday's crunch EU leaders' summit.
The European Parliament, European Commission, and European Council met this Monday and failed to reach an agreement to allow platforms to continue scanning for child pornography and child abuse images. Experts are concerned.
President of the European Council calls on Hungary to respect the community agreement.
"By modernizing our rules, we are standing up for fairness, equality and a Parliament that truly reflects the people it serves,” says Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Committee vote scheduled following major lobbying effort by U.S. officials and diplomats.
A spokesperson for the EU Council stated that, despite intentions to limit the exemption to a law regarding child sexual abuse material, member states decided that doing so would render it “ineffective”.
At issue is the extension of provisional rules that allow for the detection of child sexual abuse material on the Internet, which expire on April 3rd.
Rules approved in 2021 had been in force since 2022 while more permanent solutions were being negotiated. Without an agreement, there will be no rules in place as of April 3rd.
The European Commission today regretted the lack of agreement between co-legislators on extending the provisional rules that allow for the detection of child sexual abuse material on the Internet, which are set to expire on April 3rd.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on revising state aid rules for struggling banks in the EU, aiming to safeguard financial stability and minimise taxpayer exposure. The initiative seeks to modernise and simplify existing rules to reflect regulatory and economic developments, particularly those resulting from the recent reform of the Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance framework. The revision aims to ensure consistent treatment of all types of state aid measures in cases of bank failure prevention, resolution, or liquidation. Stakeholders can submit their contributions until 14 April 2026. The current rules, last updated in 2013, are considered outdated and not fully aligned with the current banking crisis management framework, which now prioritises resolution—where losses are borne by shareholders and creditors—over state bailouts.
The rector of Portugal’s University of Porto, António Sousa Pereira, currently serving his second and final term, said today that the war in the Middle East is “an opportunity” to The post Middle East war is chance to rethink EU – Porto University rector appeared first on Portugal Resident.
An exemption to a privacy protection law that allowed for the detection of child sexual abuse material on the internet expires in April, after the Council of the EU and the European Parliament failed to reach an agreement to extend it.
European Council President António Costa has expressed confidence that European Union leaders will approve new measures to combat rising energy costs during their upcoming summit. Describing the current crisis as a “dramatic and challenging moment,” the former Portuguese Prime Minister emphasized the need for unified support for member states. The measures aim to mitigate the economic impact of energy volatility caused by international conflicts. Consumers should watch for potential energy price relief following the summit.
António Luís Santos da Costa (born July 17, 1961, in Lisbon) is a Portuguese lawyer and Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015-2024 and currently serves as President of the European Council since December 1, 2024. After leading the Lisbon Municipal Assembly and practicing law, he was elected MEP (2004-2005) and entered parliament in 2002. He led the Socialist Party from 2014-2024, building unprecedented parliamentary coalitions with the Communist Party and Left Bloc (2015-2019) before winning an absolute majority in 2022. He resigned as PM in November 2023 following a corruption investigation, though subsequently cleared. The 27 EU member states elected him Council President in June 2024, making him the fourth full-time President and the first southern European socialist in that role.
Political Philosophy:
Costa represents moderate European social democracy, combining orthodox fiscal responsibility with progressive social investment. He prioritizes European integration, consensus-building, and pragmatic compromise over ideological confrontation. As Council President, he champions mediation between member states, improved EU inter-institutional relations, shorter decision-making processes, and regular visits to every EU capital to reconnect citizens with European institutions. His approach emphasizes "creative bridges" reconciling divergent interests while maintaining firmness on European values, particularly regarding Ukraine.
European Council President António Costa has invited UN Secretary-General António Guterres to an upcoming EU summit to address regional tensions in Iran and discuss strategies for enhancing European economic competitiveness.
Ricardo Arroja argues that the European Commission’s attempt to balance openness and protection is already skewed towards protection. He warns this tilt risks undermining the EU’s openness, competitiveness and regulatory coherence, potentially fragmenting the single market and stifling innovation. Arroja calls for recalibrated policy that defends legitimate security and social concerns without sacrificing the Union’s commitment to openness and a level-playing field.
The European Parliament is resisting Commission proposals to dilute passenger protections, insisting on retaining mandatory compensation for cancelled or delayed flights and a guaranteed baggage allowance. The dispute reflects a broader clash between consumer-rights advocates and regulatory reformers, with important consequences for airlines, passengers and upcoming EU travel rules.
