Anti-coercion instrument invoked by Macron dates from 2023 and has never been used
The European Union's anti-coercion instrument, which French President Emmanuel Macron will request today if Donald Trump's threatened additional customs duties are implemented, was adopted in June 2023 but has never been used.
EU and Mercosur sign agreement creating the world’s largest free-trade area
The agreement was finalised in Asunción, Paraguay, after 25 years of negotiations, in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa.
EU–Mercosur agreement depends on ratification and could be reviewed by the Court of Justice
The European Commission and the European Council regard approval of the Mercosur deal as a historic moment, but the agreement is far from consensual. Divisions among member states persist, and the European Parliament, which will have to ratify the proposal, is still seeking majorities.
10:00: EU and Mercosur sign historic trade agreement today
The signing of the agreement opens the door to the world’s largest free-trade area, covering more than 700 million consumers. Negotiations began 25 years ago. There are still constraints in the health sector.
António Costa says criticisms in Europe are based on a 'totally mistaken perception' of the Mercosur agreement
Last week, the 27 member states of the European Union reached a qualified majority to approve the agreement.
EU–Mercosur: gains for wine and olive oil and risk of small farms going bankrupt
The EU–Mercosur agreement will create clear winners and losers in agriculture: EU wine and olive oil producers stand to gain improved access and competitive opportunities, while beef, rice, sugar and honey are likely to face the greatest pressure from increased imports and tariff concessions. Farmers warn of 'unfair competition' and say small family farms risk bankruptcy unless safeguard clauses are rigorously enforced, with transparent monitoring, clear trigger mechanisms and targeted support measures. The agreement therefore raises political and policy questions about enforcement, compensation and the protection of vulnerable rural sectors.
Textile crisis
If there are no tariffs on imports through platforms, the European textile industry will disappear.
DORA: the new law that could change who pays the bill for digital fraud — banks or customers?
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is a new EU law that may shift responsibility and costs for digital fraud by imposing stricter security, reporting and liability requirements on banks and financial firms, potentially changing whether banks or customers bear the losses.
TikTok tightens age verification in Europe with new AI
TikTok will deploy a new AI system to strengthen age checks across its European platforms, aiming to reduce underage access to age-restricted content and comply with regional regulations.
Public Prosecutor's Office accuses Casa Pia of hiding origin of Russian funds and breaching EU sanctions
Casa Pia is accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office of receiving €1.1 million from a Russian club and of attempting to hide the origin of the money from the Montepio bank, in an alleged breach of European Union sanctions. The case concerns crimes of money laundering, document forgery and violation of restrictions. The club that is ...
Centeno: 'There is still a lack of alignment among the major countries' in the race for the ECB
With the Eurogroup set to choose the ECB vice-president on Monday, former Portuguese central bank governor Mário Centeno—one of two front-runners—says there remains a lack of alignment among major EU countries. Speaking to PÚBLICO, Centeno urges reaffirmation of the reasons for his candidacy and signals that political negotiations, policy priorities and regulatory direction will be decisive in the appointment. The comments frame the contest as both a balance-of-power and policy-choice moment for the ECB’s future leadership.
Russian oil price cap set at US$44.10 in February
From 1 February, the new maximum limit for the price of Russian crude oil is US$44.10 per barrel, the European Commission said in a press release issued this Thursday. The G7 Oil Price Cap Coalition (the seven largest economies in the world) established a mechanism to ...
It’s not over, Europe’s regulators tell X
Grok users can still generate sexualized images despite fresh promises from X.
Anyone who has only saved €10 must be able to invest those €10
European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque wants everyone to have access to financial markets to invest, even if they have only saved €10. 'Investing cannot be just for a few,' the former Portuguese minister said in Parliament. 'A person has only managed to save €10, only has €10 to invest; it must be possible to invest those €10.'
European regulation will become "simpler and clearer"
European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque says the European Commission will, in 2026, tackle what is described as one of its worst problems — excessive, complex regulation.
Strategic financial planning for 2026 and beyond
A key reason to review your wealth management is to confirm it is up to date. Establish how tax and regulatory reforms in Portugal and the UK could affect you, The post Strategic financial planning for 2026 and beyond appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The never-ending lobbying of the 'forever chemicals' industry
An EU ban on PFAS remains a distant prospect. There are worrying signs that regulators are trying to reduce the industry's accountability.
New Entry-Exit rules require extra data at borders
The EU's Entry-Exit System will require more non-EU nationals entering Schengen to provide extra personal data at arrival and departure; outlets say more than a third of non-EU arrivals will be affected. The change may alter arrival procedures at airports and could lengthen border checks for some travellers. Non-EU expats and visitors should check ID and documentation requirements ahead of travel and expect possible longer processing at Portuguese airports.
The Entry-Exit System (Sistema de Entrada e Saída) is an EU border-register that records biometric data (fingerprints and a facial image) and travel details for short-stay non‑EU travellers, replacing passport stamping and creating a searchable entry/exit record. According to recent reporting, the new rules now require over a third of non‑EU nationals entering Schengen to provide this extra data at the border; the aim is to improve security and migration tracking, but travellers should be prepared to submit biometrics at kiosks or border control and ensure their travel documents are valid. For expats and visitors this usually means slightly longer checks on arrival/departure and more robust digital records of your travel history.
EU countries approve trade agreement with Mercosur after 25 years of negotiations
In an initial vote, the proposal passed despite votes against from France, Poland, Austria, Ireland and Hungary, and an abstention from Belgium.
Grok restreint l’accès à son générateur d’images qui déshabille les femmes
Les régulateurs et les responsables politiques européens ont dénoncé l'outil d'intelligence artificielle de X.
Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot limits access to image generator that put women in bikinis
European regulators and politicians have denounced X's artificial intelligence tool.
Galp prepares to change, but the process will be lengthy and will put Brussels' new approach to the test
Galp and Moeve have entered detailed talks to combine their refining operations and filling-station networks, a complex transaction that is likely to be lengthy and closely scrutinised. The Portuguese Communist Party has already criticised the proposed deal and the government will have a role in the approval process, raising political as well as regulatory stakes. The transaction will test Brussels’ evolving approach to competition and regulation in the energy sector, with implications for pricing, investment and market structure in Portugal.
Brussels urges X to preserve internal documents on Grok after detecting child pornography
The spokesperson for technological sovereignty said the executive detected that the artificial intelligence tool had generated “antisemitic content” and “sexual images of children”.
Trump’s shadow looms over EU aviation emissions plan
“God only knows what the Trump administration will do” if the EU expands its aviation emissions scheme, an EU official says.
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