Welcome to the Week em Breve, a wrap-up of important Portuguese news to keep you up to date and in the know.
National defence spending to hit 2% target ahead of schedule
In line with sabre rattling around the world, Portugal predicts that it will raise its defence spending to 2% of GDP this year, Reuters reports.
Portugal originally expected to reach the 2% NATO target by 2029, meaning the country would be four years ahead of schedule.
Currently, Portugal has a relatively low defence budget compared with other NATO members, with estimates putting it at €4.48 billion (1.58% of GDP) last year.
AIMA rejects almost 20% of immigration requests
Almost 34,000 applications have been rejected by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, AIMA), according to António Leitão, the Minister of the Presidency of Portugal.
They are part of AIMA’s attempt to clear a backlog of 440,000 “expression of interest” residency applications.
So far, they have processed 184,059, of which 33,983 have been rejected and 150,076 have been granted, Público reports.
About 2,000 people per day are being notified to leave Portugal voluntarily, with the majority being Indian (13,466) followed by Brazilians (5,386), Bangladeshis (3,750), and Nepalese (3,279).
Portugal ‘increased in importance’ as a cocaine gateway
Portugal has become an increasingly important gateway into Europe for cocaine, according to a new European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) report.
The European Drug Report 2025 noted that Portugal has “seized increasing quantities since 2021,” reporting almost 22 tonnes in 2023.
This is still relatively small compared to the traditional entry points of Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands, but shows Portugal as one of several countries that “appear to have increased in importance as entry points for cocaine to Europe.”
There was also notable secondary processing of cocaine in the country, with 6 laboratories dismantled in Portugal between 2023 and 2024, according to the EUDA report.
Over 100 notable Portuguese call for the country to recognize Palestine
Various politicians and other public figures have signed a petition calling for the Portuguese State to recognize Palestine, Público reports.
The petition also called on Portugal to commit to the deliberations of the International Criminal Court, which has called for the detention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It also called to ban arms shipments to Israel passing through Portuguese territory and policies to stop Portuguese-registered companies providing services for Israel’s “military operations in Gaza.”
As of March, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognized the State of Palestine as a sovereign state. Portugal is one of the remaining 46 that have not.
Cabinet to remain similar following snap election
Following the snap election and win by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, his new parliamentary cabinet will bear a striking resemblance to the previous one, Reuters reports.
Many of the ministers will remain the same, including the finance minister, the Environment and Energy Minister, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, according to Reuters.
Montenegro’s has focused on “continuity” after Portugal had three elections in as many years.
Portugal wins the Nations League trophy
Yesterday, Portugal’s national football team beat neighbouring Spain to win the Nations League trophy.
The win was decided with “nailbiter” penalties after the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
In classic style, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo dropped to the ground and cried as Ruben Neves scored the winning penalty.
