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The Portugal Brief

Portugal, Spain, and Morocco Sign Judicial Cooperation Pact Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Portugal, Spain, and Morocco signed a judicial cooperation memorandum in Rabat, creating rapid-response protocols, on-call judges, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms for the 2030 FIFA World Cup — the first tournament to span Africa and Europe.

59,000 Pre-Approved Homes Never Got Built — APPII Says Regulation and Costs Are Choking Portugal's Housing Supply

Some 59,000 pre-approved housing units in Portugal were never built over the past three years because rising costs, 23% VAT, and unpredictable regulation made them financially unviable, says the APPII. The industry body estimates 50,000 more could be unlocked with a permanent VAT cut.

Cost of Living in Portugal in 2026: Rent, Groceries, Transport, Healthcare, and What to Budget Each Month

A complete breakdown of what it actually costs to live in Portugal in 2026 — from rent and groceries to healthcare and transport — with realistic monthly budgets at three income levels and city-by-city price comparisons.

Portuguese Have Fewer Friends Than a Decade Ago — ISCTE Study Links Growing Loneliness to Youth and Poverty

A major ISCTE study finds that the Portuguese have fewer close friends and socialise less than a decade ago, with young adults and low-income groups suffering the steepest decline — and most people don't even realise it's happening.

Government Revives Commercial Paper to Slash Red Tape — Companies Can Now Bypass Banks for Short-Term Funding

Portugal's Council of Ministers has approved a sweeping reform of commercial paper rules, eliminating the need for bank intermediaries, CMVM pre-approval, and formal prospectuses — opening a direct path for companies to raise short-term funding on the capital market.