The European Commission has intervened in the Lisbon Metro expansion project, forcing the consortium led by Mota-Engil to replace a Chinese subcontractor with a Polish supplier. The decision follows an investigation which determined that the Chinese firm, CRRC, benefited from unfair foreign subsidies. This ruling affects the construction of the new Violet Line, which is designed to connect Lisbon to the municipalities of Odivelas and Loures.
The European Commission is the EU’s executive body based in Brussels that proposes legislation, enforces EU rules and manages day‑to‑day EU policies; it is led by a President, currently Ursula von der Leyen. Commission proposals on harmonising business rules or introducing preferences can directly affect trade, regulation and competitiveness for companies and residents across all member states, including Portugal.
The European Commission has introduced the Affordable Housing Act, a framework designed to provide member states with legal tools and flexibility to address housing shortages, short-term rentals, and vacant properties without mandating specific national policies.
A profile of Álvaro Santos Pereira, highlighting his early ambition in Viseu, his academic journey, and his reputation as a governor who maintains a sharp critical perspective and rejects cronyism.
The European Commissioner for Housing will propose a new law that provides for greater regulation of local accommodation. “Short-term rental accommodation is part of the problem in many cities.”
Several European air transport associations have demanded the full and consistent application of EU rules on airport noise management, warning that some national restrictions could harm air connectivity. The sector argues that operational restrictions should only be a last resort, following the 'Balanced Approach' framework. The associations criticise some European governments for imposing 'ad hoc' and 'subjective' restrictions that bypass established procedures. In Portugal, ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal is set to appeal a fine imposed by the environmental inspectorate for failing to fully implement the Lisbon airport noise action plan, specifically regarding building soundproofing measures.
The 27 insurance and pension fund supervisors from European Union member states met in Lisbon at the ASF headquarters for the EIOPA Strategy Day. These are the regulators for insurers that generate 1.4 trillion euros in annual premiums and manage 10 trillion euros in assets across Europe, representing approximately...
Former Ukrainian minister Oleksandr Kamyshin came to Lisbon to participate in the convention of the largest association of European defence companies, where Éric Trappier, CEO of fighter jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation, said that we are living in a 'war economy' and that Europeans do not buy 'American' because it is better.
A senior European official highlighted that the current global scenario, influenced by the war in Ukraine, rivalry with China, and uncertainty in relations with the US, is forcing the EU to adapt its trade and industrial policy.
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”.
The European Commission has authorised the Lisbon Metro to proceed with the contract award for the design and construction of the Violet line, after the consortium led by Mota-Engil agreed to replace the Chinese company CRRC with the Polish company PESA for the supply of rolling stock, which “avoids any distortion caused by foreign subsidies”. The decision comes...
A delegation from the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union (EU), including communist MEP João Oliveira, is visiting Lisbon between Monday and Wednesday to analyse the country's responses to the housing crisis. In a statement released this Thursday, the European assembly indicated that a delegation from the Housing Committee...
The implementation of Mário Draghi's recommendations remains slow, limiting investment, productivity, growth, and employment in Europe, according to the Reform Barometer by BusinessEurope, the largest European business confederation, of which the CIP–Confederation of Portuguese Business is a member. 'Only about 11% of the recommendations presented by Draghi in September 2024 have been implemented to date,' says Rafael Alves Rocha, Director-General of the CIP, in a statement. This situation leads the organization to assert that 'political messages in defence of competitiveness are not enough; urgent measures are needed to clearly and immediately alleviate the burden on companies.' The topic will be debated at the conference 'European Competitiveness 18 months after the Draghi Report,' taking place tomorrow (March 17) at the Bank of Portugal's Money Museum in Lisbon. The event, organized with the support of the CIP, will feature the participation of the Assistant Secretary of State and Budget, João Maria Brandão de Brito. The debate will focus on the most urgent challenges for European growth, with contributions from officials from the Bank of Portugal, BusinessEurope, academia, financial institutions, and the CIP. Economists and representatives from the business sector are also expected to attend. The 2026 edition of the Reform Barometer, one of the main European publications dedicated to analyzing economic reforms and EU competitiveness, will be on the table, the statement says. This study is published annually and analyzes the performance of European economies in areas such as public finance, business environment, innovation and skills, access to finance, taxation, financial stability, and the labor market. In this edition, the barometer reveals that nearly 60% of national confederations, members of BusinessEurope, have a more favorable opinion of the European Commission's competitiveness and growth agenda than a year ago. However, only 19% of respondents point to an improvement in the EU's investment environment, while more than half see no change. About a third state that conditions have worsened. The conference program includes debates on the state of EU competitiveness in a context of increasing global competition, the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the role of cohesion policy in supporting investment, and the development of the Savings and Investments Union. Navigator heads towards the future with bets on tissue paper and coffee capsules; footwear sector invests 50 million to position itself as a supplier to the European military sector.
