Latest news and stories about public safety in europe in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Portuguese Federation for Life is demanding that a Molotov cocktail attack on their recent March for Life be prosecuted as an act of terrorism, following the arrest of a suspect linked to an anarchist group.
A study by the European Union Drugs Agency reveals a rise in weekend cocaine and ketamine consumption across 115 European cities, while MDMA usage has declined by 16%.
During his final trip as President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reported that the European Union has shown a willingness to explore ways to assist Portugal in addressing the damages caused by recent severe weather. He highlighted a positive response from various European leaders regarding the situation in Portugal, indicating a readiness to understand and support the country's needs.
The leader of the Chega party has criticized the Prime Minister for failing to activate European mechanisms to address the severe storms that have caused significant damage in Portugal, questioning the government's response to public safety during this crisis.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has proposed discussions on establishing a disaster fund in Portugal to address damages from increasing natural disasters, such as recent floods. During a visit to the flooded area of Alcácer do Sal, he highlighted the need for financial relief for businesses affected by such calamities, especially those without insurance. He noted that similar funds exist in the European Union and emphasized the opportunity presented by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) to support this initiative.
A week after severe weather conditions, over 200,000 people remain without power, and the European Civil Protection Plan has not been activated. The government has extended the state of calamity until February 8 to address the adverse weather expected from depression Leonardo, which will bring heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and rough seas to mainland Portugal.
PS secretary-general Carneiro has challenged the Government to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism immediately after Storm Kristin, sending Luís Montenegro a programme of measures to address the impacts. Civil Protection experts concede a late assessment of the disaster’s scale but say Portugal has not yet exhausted national response capacity; the question of requesting generators from abroad remains under study. Other centre-left parties, including the PCP of Santarém, describe government measures as too late and insufficient, warning that a disaster of this magnitude cannot be left to the goodwill of local communities alone.
PS secretary-general Carneiro has challenged the Government to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism immediately after Storm Kristin, sending Luís Montenegro a programme of measures to address the impacts. Civil Protection experts concede a late assessment of the disaster’s scale but say Portugal has not yet exhausted national response capacity; the question of requesting generators from abroad remains under study. Other centre-left parties, including the PCP of Santarém, describe government measures as too late and insufficient, warning that a disaster of this magnitude cannot be left to the goodwill of local communities alone.
Lamego City Council has closed the A24 motorway in both directions between the Valdigem and Lamego junctions (Viseu district) because of an imminent risk of a “large-scale” landslide. The stretch had earlier been shut north-to-south as a precaution; authorities say the full closure is intended to protect road users while geotechnical teams assess slope stability and remediation measures. The action will cause regional travel disruption and underscores the need for monitoring and preventive works on vulnerable road cuttings.
CEPCD surveillance shows more than 4,000 cases of Candidozyma auris reported across the EU from 2013–2023, with an apparent surge recorded in 2025. In Portugal the pathogen was first confirmed in eight patients at a northern hospital in 2023. The pattern underscores nurses’ frontline role in detection, infection control and patient care, and highlights gaps in surveillance, preparedness and resource allocation that must be addressed to limit spread and protect vulnerable patients and healthcare staff.
The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Portugal, Belgium, and France for failing to assess the road safety of their main national roads, giving them two months to comply. The Commission stated that these countries failed to conduct network-wide safety assessments or report the results as required by EU directive. While France and Portugal did not submit reports, Belgium provided only partial data. If the countries do not respond satisfactorily, the Commission may issue reasoned opinions.
In 2024, Portugal recorded 3,237 cases of sexual violence, including 494 rapes, placing it in the middle of the 27 EU member states, according to Eurostat data released on Wednesday, April 29. France reported the highest figures, while Cyprus reported the lowest. EU-wide, sexual violence complaints reached 256,302, a 5% year-on-year increase. Regarding voluntary homicides, Portugal ranked 15th in the EU with 72 cases, while the EU total saw a slight 1% increase to 3,953 cases compared to the previous year.
Belgium and France are also in breach, as they, like Portugal, were required to carry out road safety assessments of the entire network by 2024 and submit reports to the Commission by 31 October 2025 regarding the safety classification of their road networks.
Sexual violence complaints reported in the European Union (EU) reached 256,302 cases in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 5% in these crimes and 7% in rape cases alone, according to the latest data released today by Eurostat.
Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence crimes soared by 94% and rape cases by 150%
The PSP union is organising a congress in Porto to discuss the proposal. The idea is for Europe to punish the crime uniformly.
Portugal maintains a high rate of road accidents compared to the rest of the European Union.
The apparent reduction in seizures at some major European ports may suggest progress, but a broader analysis points to a less comfortable conclusion: drug trafficking in Europe is not necessarily retreating; it is adapting. The primary political error is confusing seizures with control. The fact that intercepted volumes in ports like Antwerp and Rotterdam have fallen in recent years does not, by itself, mean that trafficking is declining. It simply means it has changed form. Criminal networks have learned to distribute risk better, fragment shipments, and bypass pressure points, adapting faster than states. More importantly, Europe is shifting from being merely a destination for consumption to assuming intermediate roles in the cocaine value chain, with processing and redistribution now occurring within European territory. This evolution reveals the consolidation of lasting criminal infrastructure, from laboratories to money laundering networks, posing an institutional threat that extends beyond criminal justice. As routes diversify and criminal groups embed themselves in legitimate markets, the European response must move beyond focusing on specific entry points to addressing the phenomenon as a complex, adaptive network.
A surprise inspection carried out 4 months ago revealed 14 deficiencies at the country's main airport. Failures regarding human resources, equipment, and inspections carried out by the PSP are causing concern in Brussels.
A lack of staff to detect document fraud or screen all passengers from outside the Schengen Area are examples of the 14 flaws detected. Luís Neves is concerned but is “seeking solutions”.
Home News Humberto Delgado Airport may fail European test due to security flaws Humberto Delgado Airport may fail European test due to security flaws A surprise inspection by the European Commission at Lisbon Airport raises the risk of the infrastructure being sanctioned after the detection of 14
Belgian authorities have asked the population to prepare an “emergency kit” with food, medicine, and essential products to allow for three days of self-sufficiency in the event of a disaster. This is an adaptation to the “unstable international context” and the risk of natural disasters related to climate change, stated the minister of...
MEP Ana Miguel Pedro, from the CDS-PP, reveals the details of the new strategy to 'Europa Viva'.
On April 3rd, the EU's provisional rules for the detection and reporting of this content came to an end. Several tech giants have committed to maintaining their efforts through voluntary actions.
Tech companies reaffirmed their commitment, stressing that protecting children is “not just a legal issue, but a fundamental responsibility.”
The vice-president of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) highlighted this Wednesday that the April 2025 blackout originated in Spain, but “could have started in any country”, and that it is important to “learn” in order to take preventive measures. "It is very important, in a political context, to reinforce that these recommendations [from the European technical investigation...]
Audio recordings between experts reveal new information
The rules that were in force expired last Friday.
The European framework for protecting critical infrastructure is designed for a world that no longer exists. Current regulations focus on formally designated sectors, but fail to account for 'hidden' critical assets—such as supply chains for essential goods or non-hospital health providers—that become vital during crises. The author argues for a paradigm shift that moves beyond binary definitions of criticality, advocating for a system designed for maximum credible crisis scenarios, supported by cross-ministerial coordination and a financial pact to share the costs of resilience.
The European Parliament rejected the extension of the exception that allowed for the detection of child sexual abuse crimes. Digital platforms will no longer be able to voluntarily detect child pornography content starting this Friday.
