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A construction worker in a hard hat and safety harness atop a tower crane against a clear blue sky

Mota-Engil Signals Confidence a US Court Will Dismiss Muddy Waters' Defamation Suit on Jurisdiction

Portugal's largest builder is increasingly confident a Texas court will throw out the defamation suit brought by short-seller Muddy Waters — potentially on jurisdictional grounds, according to ECO reporting.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

Euro banknotes of all denominations from five to two hundred euros

The IGCP Removes the €5,000 Online Ceiling on Certificados de Aforro, Clearing the Way for Single Purchases up to €250,000

Portugal's debt agency has scrapped the €5,000 cap on online purchases of Savings Certificates. Using the DUC payment mechanism, savers can now subscribe any amount in one transaction up to €250,000 — as the July base rate hits 2.356%.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A Portuguese motorway viaduct curving through green wooded hills under a cloudy sky

After an 18-Year Gap, Portugal Plans €6 Billion of New Road Concessions From 2029 as Brisa's A8 and A15 Deals Wind Down

The government has sketched more than €6 billion of new motorway concessions for 2029-2031 — its first road PPP in 18 years — while opening talks with Brisa over the A8 and A15. The tolling model is still undecided.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

The Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon on a sunny day, framed by pink oleander blossoms

The Testamento Vital (Living Will) and RENTEV in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to the Diretiva Antecipada de Vontade, the Health-Care Proxy, Lei 25/2012, the Five-Year Validity and How Foreign Residents Register One

A testamento vital lets any adult set out in advance the medical care they would accept or refuse if they could no longer speak for themselves — and name a proxy. A practical guide to the DAV, the free RENTEV registry, Lei 25/2012 and how foreign residents register one.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A golden dry wheat field with cork oak trees under a hazy blue summer sky in Portugal's Alentejo interior

As a 42°C Heatwave Builds, Portugal Leans on Existing Labour Law for Worker Protection While the ACT Notifies 200,000 Employers of Their Duties

As the IPMA forecasts highs near 42°C in Portugal's interior, the government says the law already protects workers — though it sets no temperature at which work stops. The ACT has notified 200,000 employers of their duty to provide water, ventilation and breaks.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A Porto street showing a mix of old townhouses and newly built residential apartment buildings under a blue sky

Portugal's 6% Construction VAT Takes Effect on July 1, Capping Eligible Homes at €660,982 and Giving Non-Resident Buyers a Recoverable 7.5% Transfer-Tax Rate

From 1 July, Decreto-Lei 97/2026 cuts VAT on building or renovating a home to 6% from 23% — capped at a €660,982 sale price or €2,300 rent. Non-residents get a recoverable 7.5% transfer tax, self-builders can reclaim the difference, and moving out in year one triggers a 10% IMT surcharge.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A modern glass-clad office tower in Lisbon under a clear blue sky, representing the Portuguese workplace

Understanding Your Portuguese Employment Contract and Payslip in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Contract Types, the 14 Monthly Payments, the Subsídio de Refeição, TSU and IRS Withholding, Probation and What You're Owed When You Leave

Portuguese jobs pay across 14 instalments, not 12, and the payslip hides a lot: 11% Social Security, IRS withheld monthly, a tax-friendly meal allowance, and probation of up to 240 days. A practical guide to contracts, pay and what you're owed when a job ends.

The Portugal Brief 01 Jul 2026

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