Latest news and stories about eu policy in europe in Portugal for expats and residents.
The European Union has officially unblocked the first round of accession negotiations for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto. This breakthrough followed a historic agreement between Budapest and Kyiv regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine. Formal talks are expected to be announced at the next meeting of European foreign ministers.
European institutions have reached a provisional agreement to toughen migration policy, including measures to accelerate deportations and the potential use of hubs in third countries for failed asylum seekers. These reforms, which complement the broader European Pact on Migration and Asylum (Pacto Europeu de Migração e Asilo) taking effect June 12, aim to increase control over the bloc's external borders.
The European Pact on Migration and Asylum (Pacto Europeu sobre Migração e Asilo) is a set of EU regulations designed to standardize how member states manage border security, asylum applications, and the relocation of migrants. It aims to create a more uniform process across the bloc, ensuring that countries share responsibility for processing arrivals and handling returns of individuals who do not qualify for asylum.
European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the administration of US President Donald Trump does not favor a unified European Union. Kallas warned that the US, alongside China and Russia, may be using a divide-and-conquer strategy to weaken the bloc, and urged member states to maintain unity to remain a strong geopolitical power.
Kaja Kallas is the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a role she assumed in December 2024. A member of the Estonian Reform Party (Eesti Reformierakond), she previously served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially promulgated the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The treaty, which has been under negotiation for over 25 years, is scheduled to enter into force provisionally this Friday.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the current President of Brazil, serving his third term since January 2023. A prominent figure in Brazilian politics, he previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and is a founding member of the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will formally propose that the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel. Sánchez cited alleged violations of international law and human rights by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu as the basis for the move. The proposal is scheduled for discussion at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg this Tuesday.
Over 30 members of the European Parliament, including João Oliveira of the Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) and Catarina Martins of the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE), have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. They are requesting an extension of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or RRP) deadline to 2028, citing rising costs and procurement difficulties.
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.
The Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR) is a national program funded by the European Union to support economic recovery and modernization following the COVID-19 pandemic. It allocates billions of euros to projects in areas such as climate transition, digital transformation, and social infrastructure.
A provisional European Union regime that allowed digital platforms to voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse content expired this Friday. The lapse follows a failure by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to reach an agreement on a permanent legislative framework, effectively ending the temporary bypass of electronic communication privacy rules.
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.
