🇵🇹 Daily Portugal news for expats & investors — FREE Subscribe
Sign in Subscribe
The Portugal Brief

The Portugal Brief

Nuno Melo Walks Into the Brussels Defence Ministers Meeting on Tuesday 12 May Saying He Is 'Tendentially Against' a European Army — Portugal Lines Up With the NATO-Pillar Camp Against the Spanish Push for an EU Force

Nuno Melo Walks Into the Brussels Defence Ministers Meeting on Tuesday 12 May Saying He Is 'Tendentially Against' a European Army — Portugal Lines Up With the NATO-Pillar Camp Against the Spanish Push for an EU Force

Defence Minister Nuno Melo told reporters at the EU defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 12 May 2026 that he is 'tendentially against' a European army, lining Portugal up behind a strengthened NATO European pillar instead of the Spanish push for an autonomous EU force.
The Portugal Brief
Tribunal Constitucional President José João Abrantes Renounces the Office Tuesday 12 May — Resignation Effective on the Swearing-In of His Successor, Parliament Now Owes Four Judge Elections After the April PSD-Chega-PS Agreement

Tribunal Constitucional President José João Abrantes Renounces the Office Tuesday 12 May — Resignation Effective on the Swearing-In of His Successor, Parliament Now Owes Four Judge Elections After the April PSD-Chega-PS Agreement

TC president José João Abrantes formally renounced the office on Tuesday 12 May 2026, citing 'exclusively personal and institutional reasons'. The resignation takes effect when his successor is sworn in. Parliament now owes four judge elections under the 7 April PSD-Chega-PS framework.
The Portugal Brief
Portuguese Food and Beverage Exports Climb 2.03% to €1.964 Billion in Q1 2026 Despite a 17.4% Collapse Into the United States — Bulgaria, Ireland and the Netherlands Carry the EU Tape, São Tomé and Cabo Verde Lead the CPLP Print

Portuguese Food and Beverage Exports Climb 2.03% to €1.964 Billion in Q1 2026 Despite a 17.4% Collapse Into the United States — Bulgaria, Ireland and the Netherlands Carry the EU Tape, São Tomé and Cabo Verde Lead the CPLP Print

FIPA reads Portuguese food and beverage exports at €1.964 billion in Q1 2026 (+2.03% YoY) — EU sales rose to €1.350 billion (Bulgaria +35.1%, Ireland +27.6%) while exports to the US fell 17.4% on the Trump tariff regime, Morocco fell 21% and Angola fell 4.9%.
The Portugal Brief
Sonae's International Sales Climb 45% Past €2.3 Billion in 2025 — Maia Holding Adds 1,070 Stores Abroad, Pushes Foreign Revenue Above 20% of the Group for the First Time and Books €247 Million of Attributable Net Profit

Sonae's International Sales Climb 45% Past €2.3 Billion in 2025 — Maia Holding Adds 1,070 Stores Abroad, Pushes Foreign Revenue Above 20% of the Group for the First Time and Books €247 Million of Attributable Net Profit

Sonae's 2025 international sales reached €2.3 billion (+45% YoY), offshore revenue past 20% of the group for the first time. The Maia holding added 74 net stores abroad to reach 1,070, lifted consolidated revenue 14.2% to €11.4 billion and printed €247M of attributable net profit.
The Portugal Brief
CTT–DHL Iberian Parcels Joint Venture Closes Tuesday 12 May — Correios Encaixam €64 Million, Take 25% of DHL eCommerce Spain via Danzas, Give DHL 25% of CTT Expresso and Lock a €35-Million Annual EBIT Synergy Target Across the New Iberian Number-One

CTT–DHL Iberian Parcels Joint Venture Closes Tuesday 12 May — Correios Encaixam €64 Million, Take 25% of DHL eCommerce Spain via Danzas, Give DHL 25% of CTT Expresso and Lock a €35-Million Annual EBIT Synergy Target Across the New Iberian Number-One

CTT and DHL closed their Iberian e-commerce parcels JV on Tuesday. CTT encaixa €64 million net cash, takes 25% of DHL eCommerce Spain via Danzas, gives DHL 25% of CTT Expresso, and targets €35M+ annual EBIT synergies in 2–3 years. EU clearance landed 19 March 2026.
The Portugal Brief