DEFIANT EUROPEAN UNITY

Portugal is in close harmony with the rest of the European Union about the three major global concerns - Trump’s tariffs, Israel’s killing of aid workers, and Putin’s relentless war in Ukraine.

 

After the European Union, the United States has long been Portugal’s largest market for goods and services, with exports growing by around 10% annually. Last year, the U.S. imported €5.76 billion worth of Portuguese products, including pharmaceuticals, mineral fuels, oils, electronic equipment, and clothes. The Douro region in the northwest of the country has been exporting plenty of its quality wine to American consumers.

 

The present worry is that this may all dramatically change for the worse as a result of Trump’s astonishing announcement of tariffs on countries around the world.

 

On Monday this week, Portugal’s finance minister said he expected the E.U. to respond to the tariffs in “a measured and balanced manner,” showing “willingness to negotiate” with the United States. On Tuesday, Portuguese government officials discussed the situation with business leaders. On Wednesday—the day Trump’s tariffs were supposed to came into force across Europe and dozens of .other countries—E.U. leaders concluded a three-day meeting in Brussels, agreeing to launch countermeasures next week. In doing so, the E.U. would join China and Canada in retaliating and escalating a global trade war.

 

Speaking on behalf of Portugal and the rest of the 27 members of the E.U., European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week offered the U.S. a “zero for zero” tariffs scheme on industrial goods in the hope of avoiding a devastating tit-for-tat trade war between the two continents.

 

Trump is so unpredictable that things could suddenly change – and on Wednesday evening they did. He announced a turnaround by suspending tariffs on the E.U. and most other nations except China for 90 days. Meanwhile, more confusion and more discussions are inevitable.

 

Regarding Israel’s lies and excuses about the brutal killing and burial of 15 medical aid workers on duty in southern Gaza last week, Portugal expressed deep shock, as did U.N. humanitarians. The truth was revealed to the world by top media reality checks. Portugal continues its long-standing condemnation of Israel’s brutal treatment of Palestinians, especially women and children. Israeli forces have killed more than 400 aid workers since October 2022.

 

The United Nations Secretary-General, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres, this week condemned Israel’s continuing blockade of aid to Gaza, saying it had “opened the floodgates of horror.” No food, fuel or medicine has entered Gaza in more than a month, he said.

 

Along with nearly all other European Union countries, as well as the United Kingdom, Portugal remains firmly supportive of Ukraine's right to peaceful independence and is firmly opposed to Russia’s ongoing bombardments in a war that Trump bragged he would end within a day of his re-election.

 

Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

 

 

TRUMP'S TARIFFS "NOT LOGICAL."

President Donald Trump’s extraordinary announcement on tariffs placed on goods entering the United States has been deeply criticised in Europe and described, among other things, as “a major blow to the world economy.”

The European Union now faces 20% tariffs on all goods the USA imports from it. As a long-time ally and trading partner, the EU was the largest single market for goods exported from the US last year. Based on statistics from the US Census Bureau, the EU was a larger market than those of America’s neighbours, Canada and Mexico.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, responded to Wednesday’s shock announcement from the White House by saying that the EU is preparing “resolute countermeasures.” Meanwhile, she urged Washington to cancel the unilateral tariff measures.

She said in a televised address: “So many Europeans feel utterly disheartened by the announcement from the United States. Let me be clear: Europe did not start this confrontation. We think it is wrong, but my message to you today is that we have everything we need to protect our people and our prosperity. We have the largest market in the world, we have the strength to negotiate, we have the power to push back. Europe holds a lot of cards, from trade to technology to the size of our market, but this is built on our ability to take countermeasures if necessary. All instruments are on the table. Europe has not started this confrontation. We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but if necessary, we have a strong plan to retaliate, and we will use it.”

Trump’s reasoning behind his new global tariffs is that the United States has been “ripped off” by its trading partners for decades. He went further: “For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered by nations near and far, by friend and foe alike.” Trump assured his supporters that this would no longer happen.

China reacted furiously to the news that its tariffs would rise to a record high of 54%, vowing to retaliate. China’s Ministry of Commerce declared in a statement on Thursday morning that it "firmly opposes the tariff increase and will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests."

President Trump claimed his measures were “payback for unfair trade policies,” but Ursula von der Leyen’s remark that the new taxes will have “dire consequences for millions of people around the globe” was echoed by many other world leaders. Here are just a few:

Trump’s baseline tariff of 10% has been imposed on the United Kingdom, whose Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, stated that the UK would respond with “cool and calm heads” and pledged “to fight for the best trade deal” with the United States. He added, “Nobody wins in a trade war. That is not in our national interest.”

Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba: “The US government’s broad trade restrictions will have a significant impact not only on the economic relationship between Japan and the US but also on the global economy and the multilateral trading system as a whole.”

Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney: “We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures, we are going to protect our workers, and we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “The tariffs are baseless and contradict the principles of our nations' longstanding relationship. This is not the act of a friend. Today’s decision will add to the uncertainty in the global economy, and it will push up costs for American households.”

Written by Len Port.

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT LAST!

 

The weather keeps us wondering: what’s coming next?

 

The first three weeks of this month made it the wettest March on record in the Algarve. Then, as it so often does, the weather changed dramatically, bringing beautiful blue skies and sunshine in recent days.

 

March’s heavy rainfall significantly raised water levels in the Algarve’s reservoirs, though not as dramatically as elsewhere in Portugal, where some reservoirs reportedly reached 80% capacity, with some even overflowing. 

 

Amid the downpours, Storm Marinho swept in from the Azores Archipelago, bringing winds of up to 159 kilometres per hour (nearly 100 miles per hour). Some large trees and unstable structures were brought down, but according to the National Civil Protection Agency, there was no substantial damage to buildings.  

 

It was only in January last year that the Algarve faced one its most severe droughts in recent years. The government declared a state of alert and adopted a series of measures to curb both farming and domestic water consumption. Extreme or severe droughts occur in Portugal every decade or less. 

 

Spring (Primavera in Portuguese) officially starts on 21 March. So, what will the weather be like this year until the arrival of summer on 21 June? In Portugal, the average temperature ranges from 11 C (52F) to 22C (72F) at this time of the year.  Spring in the Algarve is comfortably warm and bright, with just occasional showers in April and May. 

 

Summer, on the other hand, is a different story. While visitors from the north usually welcome June's warmth, July and August have been sizzling hot in recent years – likely a consequence of the Global Warming crisis. There is little reason to expect that this summer will be any different, with temperatures once again expected to soar well into the 30sC (high 80sF). By then, cool rain will be a distant memory.

 

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

 

MAIN HEADLINE NEWS

ELECTION IN MAY  

Parliament has been dissolved ahead of a national election set for 18 May –  the third in as many years – following a no-confidence vote against the minority Social Democratic Party (PSD). The main contenders in May will be the PSD, the Socialist Party (PS) and Chega. 

WEATHER WARNINGS

The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute has issued multiple weather warnings for various parts of the mainland, as well as the Azores and Madeira archipelagos. Flights have been disrupted, flooding has occurred, and some reservoirs have overflowed. The Algarve, after years of drought, has experienced relentless rain day after day after day this month.

AIRPORT ARRIVALS. 

Portugal’s airports handled 4.2 million passengers in January, 6% more than the same month last year. This surge is all the more remarkable, given that January falls in the middle of the tourism low-season.

UKRAINE SUPPORT

Portugal's prime minister and foreign minister have been in close collaboration with British and EU efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. 

HOME PRICES 

The price of homes is expected to continue to rise this year in Portugal, one of Europe’s hottest property markets. This is driven by strong foreign demand and limited supply.

HOMELESSNESS  

A Catholic Charity is taking action to tackle what it describes as “a dramatic increase” in homelessness. The organisation has stressed the urgent need “to fight against poverty and exclusion in Portugal.” New homes rose by 7.5% in 2924 over the previous tear. The rise in existing homes over the same period was 9.7%.

TRUMP’S TARRIFS  

Wine producers in the Douro, Portugal’s prime wine-producing region are deeply concerned that Trump’s proposed  20% tariffs on drinks, including wine, from the European Union. Industry experts warn the measures could have a “brutal effect” on their exports.  

HUNTERS HUNTED 

Between 18 August and 28 February, the GNR police inspected 7,496 individuals, detaining 197 for illegally hunting protected species.

ANIMAL ABUSE..

The PSP police have detained 326 people for environmental crimes, including animal abuse and have recorded 11,485 offences related to those crimes over the past three years. 

YET ANOTHER GENERAL ELECTION

 

The third snap election in as many years is to take place in May, triggered this time by a controversy involving Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

As leader of his minority government and the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD), Montenegro had worked quite well in coalition with the centre-left Socialist Party (PS). However, this fragile partnership collapsed when the PS rejected a confidence vote called by the prime minister, who faces allegations of a conflict of interests relating to a family-owned business. 

 

A last-minute effort to avoid the confidence vote fell apart when the parties failed to agree on the terms for establishing a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations.

 

Montenegro, 52, took office last April, but his government came crashing down on Tuesday evening when the confidence vote failed. The PS backed by the right-wing Chega party, voted against him, leaving President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to set yet another election vote. 

The prime minister has said that when he became leader of the PSD in 2022, he transferred control of a law firm he had created to his wife and children. Mr. Montenegro has insisted he has committed no crime and done no wrong.

Last year’s snap election followed the resignation of the PS Prime Minister Antonio Costa amid a corruption scandal within his party. He denied any wrong-going himself and went on to become president of the European Council, a position he still holds.

 

EU LEADERS STAND FIRM AGAINST TRUMP

 

^{Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (pictured) was in Brussels for Thursday’s emergency summit to thrash out defence plans for Ukraine and the entire continent in the face of Russian aggression and the lack of solidarity from the Trump administration.}

 

^{Leaders from 26 of the 27 European nations attending the summit reached a commitment to work closely together to bolster support for Ukraine and increase the continent's security. Predictably, the only exception was Hungary’s Victor Orbán.} 

 

^{Mr Montenegro made it clear that the summit was of great importance. Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the meeting, Mr Montenegro said: “Our expectation is that we can take very big steps towards the EU’s participation in a peace process that everyone wants for Ukraine.”} 

^{He noted that the EU will provide €150 billion in loans to member nations, but would not be drawn on the possibility of a snap election quite soon in Portugal}

 

^{As a loyal supporter of the European Union for decades, and a founding member of NATO in 1949, Portugal, like nearly all other EU and BATO member states, is deeply concerned about President Trump’s increasingly erratic and unpredictable decisions.}

 

^{Portugal’s stance in the current defence crisis is neither erratic nor unpredictable— nor is that of Europe’s most influential leader, President Emmanuel Macron, who recently met with Mr Montenegro during the French president’s state visit to Lisbon. Their position is unambiguous: they will continue to back Ukraine against Russian aggression and fully support the EU and NATO, with or without United States backing.}

 

^{Prime Minister Montenegro and the other European leaders are trying to work out the problem of money: how to dramatically raise funds to meet the need for far greater defence spending.}

 

^{As part of the latest discussions in Brussels, the European Commission has proposed invoking an emergency provision that would allow Portugal and all other EU nations to significantly exceed hitherto defence spending limits. The plan includes loans guaranteed by the EU budget.}

 

 

 

 

FRENCH PRESIDENT’S STATE VISIT

During a two-day state visit to Portugal, President Emmanuel Macron of France sought to boost bilateral ties between France and Portugal, while also advocating for greater European unity in the face of growing threats and uncertainties.

 

President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were warmly welcomed in Lisbon on Thursday by Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

 

The visit came just days after Macron met with U.S President Donald Trump in Washington, where he tried to persuade Trump of the importance of continuing the long-standing transatlantic relationship, which now seems to be crumbling.

 

Soon after his arrival, Macron stressed the need to support Ukraine, especially at a time when the Trump administration is befriending Russia’s Vladimir Putin while Ukraine’s fate remains desperately uncertain. Macron and other European leaders have been calling for greater cooperation in response to the deepening concerns triggered by Trump’s perplexing turn-arounds.

 

A considerable majority of people in France (66%) believe that the European Union should continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily, even without US backing. However, a greater majority of French people (78%) oppose deploying French troops on the ground in Ukraine.

 

Macron expressed hope that the meeting between Trump and  Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy this Friday would go well. “I’ll always try to be there to make things easier, but Ukraine is an important fight for us,” said Macron in Lisbon.

 

He added: “It’s important that Zelensky should be able to explain to President Trump what is at stake in his country, as I tried to explain last Monday how important it is for us, and also to remind him of the importance the transatlantic link can have.”

Unfortunately the Ukrainian leader’s meeting in Washington could hardly have been worse. During an angry quarrel in the Oval Office, Trump cancelled the meeting and ordered Zelensky out.

 

On Friday President Macron and his wife travelled to Porto in northern Portugal, where they signed agreements related to political, security, and economic issues.

 

 

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

PLASTICS BUBBLE BARRIER

A remarkably innovative way to help prevent plastic waste from contaminating the oceans has been devised in Portugal.

Portugal has long been at the forefront of combating plastic pollution. Specialist researchers warn that every minute of every day, the equivalent of one garbage truckload of plastic waste enters our oceans. In Europe alone, an estimated 825 million pieces of plastic end up in the sea yearly. Experts caution that by 2040, this figure could reach a staggering 37 million tonnes annually.  This includes huge quantities of microplastics, which are killing hundreds of marine species and severely endangering human health by infiltrating our food chain. This is not alarmist speculation—it is a reality that demands urgent action.

The coastal town of Vila do Conde in northern Portugal has joined forces with scientists to create a ‘bubble barrier’ in the Ave River. This relatively simple yet highly effective system uses a curtain of air bubbles to trap plastic waste in a container before it can reach the Atlantic. Plastics – even microplastics - can then be eliminated. So far, the ‘bubble barrier’ has successfully intercepted 86% of the plastics in the river.

Further high-tech methods may help address this growing crisis, but municipalities, businesses, and individuals also need to play their part by actively collecting and reducing plastic waste – both near the water and elsewhere.

Trump’s ACCUSATIONS AND LIES

Following the security conference in Munich and the European summit in Paris, Portugal, and most other European countries, have dismissed President Trump’s absurd accusations against his former allies while switching sides and befriending President Putin.

In one of his blusters, Trump accused Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy of being a “dictator”.

FACT: As confirmed by all top international news outlets, Zelenskyy is not a dictator. He won a landslide victory in the second round of Ukraine’s national election in 2019. He gained global respect after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. 

Trump accused Zelenskyy of refusing to hold elections.

FACT: Ukraine was scheduled to hold a national election in 2024 at the end of Zelenskyy’s first five-year term in office. However, long before Zelenskyy became president, Ukraine’s constitution already forbade elections if the country was under martial law, which it has been since 2022. Zelenskyy has stated that it would be “absolutely irresponsible” to hold an election during the war. He has affirmed that new elections will be held as soon as possible but has not indicated whether he will seek another term in office.

Tump claimed Zelenskyy had a job approval rating of just 4%.

FACT: Zelenskyy’s approval rating stands at 57%, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. By contrast, Trump’s job approval rating is 45%, according to Gallup.

Trump claimed Ukraine was to blame for starting the war.

FACT: It is undeniable to the whole world that President Putin is responsible for Russia’s so-called “military operation” that started the war. 

Trump has also claimed that Ukraine wants to prolong the war “to keep the gravy train going,” meaning continuing aid for the war effort provided by the United States under the Biden administration.

FACT: Time and again Zelenskyy has stated that he wants to end the war, but he will not surrender. As Ukraine’s foreign minister put it: “We will defend our right to exist.”

Having turned his back on Ukraine and his NATO allies in Europe and Britain, Trump is looking forward to having a personal meeting with Putin to build on the extensive phone conversation he has already had with the Russian leader. 

The danger with Trump is that he is so capricious and unpredictable that no one knows what is coming next. The fear is that he will fully betray America’s allies, putting Europe and the wider world at serious risk."

Russia stands as the most easterly country in Europe, while Portugal is the most westerly. Despite the distance between them, Portugal has every reason to be deeply concerned about the ongoing situation. As tensions continue to rise and alliances look to be shifting, Europe faces an uncertain future. 

 Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE – SUMMARY

It has become increasingly clear that Europe can no longer rely on the United States as a trusted ally. The Trump administration has distanced itself from Europe while strengthening ties with Russia and “betraying” Ukraine.

This development is of great concern to Portugal and other committed European members of NATO and the European Union. 

On day one of the 61st annual Munich Security Conference, European leaders were stunned by a speech from United States Vice President J.D. Vance. In his address, Vance barely mentioned Russia or Ukraine, despite the war in Ukraine being the central focus of the conference agenda. Instead, he delivered a blistering attack on European politicians, accusing them of “retreating” from their democratic values. He claimed that the primary threat to some of Europe’s fundamental principles came not from Russia or China, but from within Europe itself. He criticised European governments, including Britain, for censoring free speech, failing to control illegal migration, ignoring religious freedom, and avoiding the question of how to resolve the Ukraine war. 

It was clear that Vance had little respect for America’s long-standing European partners. His 20-minute rant was condemned outright by European leaders, sparking a furious backlash. At best, Vance’s tirade was described as “bizarre.”

On the second day of the conference, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky went further, making it abundantly clear that he fully respected and trusted European countries and strongly advocated for the formation of a united European military force. He walked a fine line in trying not to antagonise the Trump administration while emphasising that the defence of Europe was now, more than ever, the responsibility of Europeans rather than the United States within NATO.

“Let’s be honest, now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it,” said Zelenskyy. He went on to say: “Does America need Europe as a market? Yes, but as an ally? I don’t know. For the answer to be yes, Europe needs a single voice, not a dozen different ones.” 

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European NATO countries are trying to ramp up their defence budgets from an average of 2.2% of GDP to between 2.5% and 3%. Poland plans to reach 4.7% this year, while Estonia and Latvia are committed to spending 5%. Portugal hopes to reach more than 4% by 2029. 

President Zelenskyy and European representatives want to be present at the negotiations about to take place between America and Russia over the war in Ukraine. A senior Ukrainian official may have a seat at the table, but there is little hope of Ukraine fulfilling its wish to join NATO so long as the United States is a key member. 

Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg was asked whether Europe could participate in the US – Russia negotiations. He responded, “I am from the school of realism and that is not going to happen.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency summit for European leaders in Paris today (Monday) to address the latest confusing and controversial challenges created by President Trump. Only the most influential European countries have been invited to the Paris summit. Portugal will not be represented.

The US president has already spoken with Putin by phone, and a meeting to discuss peace in Ukraine is expected to take place soon in Saudi Arabia between senior American and Russian officials.

Portugal’s prime minister and defence minister recently met in Brussels with their NATO counterparts, expressing deep concern over President Trump’s sudden close friendship with Vladimir Putin and its implications for the security and defence of Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro emphasised that defence is a political priority and called for a recovery and resilience programme to fund investment in the face of threats in various sectors, particularly regarding vital maritime connections in Portugal.

“We have a war on European territory. We have our defence and security threatened in various areas.” Of vital maritime importance, he said, are the marine cables that connect Portugal with the American continent and pass on to other parts of Europe and beyond. 

Meanwhile, on Friday, the final day of the Munich Security Conference, numerous breakout meetings and sideline discussions were held to address issues raised over the previous two days.  More than 850 participants attended, including some 40 heads of state, 40 foreign minister, 25 defence minister, as well as representatives from think-tanks, NGOs and businesses.  

Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

HELP FOR DEMENTIA HELPERS

The Alzheimer Portugal organisation is holding monthly Dementia Support Group get-togethers to help anyone looking after a family member or friend suffering from this incurable condition.

 

The English-language meetings are held in Portimao on the third Friday of each month, the next being on, February 21.

 

Under the leadership of Margarida Farreira, head of the Altzheimer Portugal organisation in Portimao and Lago, the meetings run from 11 am to 12.30 am. They offer a opportunity for dementia helpers to exchange experiences thoughts and ideas.

 

The number of people attending these intimate sessions usually varies anywhere between five and fifteen.

 

The Alzheimer centre in Portimao is located at Rua Sidonio Pais, Urb S. Francisco, Lt,2 Loja2 8500-735 Portimao.

 

To attend a session, it is best to contact the organisers by phone (965276690), or email (geral.algarve@alzheinerportugal.org). You could also check the website at www. Alzheimerportyga.org