Brussels is proposing across the board increases in the numbers of refugees European countries must take in with Portugal looking at three times its initial allocation.
Portugal rather grudgingly accepted that is will have to re-home 1,500 people fleeing from the political and religious implosion in Syria but now may have to have to put out the welcome mat for at least three times this number.
The European Commission and the European Council want substantially to increase the number of people that the member states should welcome and the proposal and has the all important blessing of France and Germany.
The Commission is being cagey about numbers but President Jean-Claude Juncker shortly is to reveal the details of the new allocations.
It is unlikely that the distribution formula will be altered so Portugal can look forward to around 4% of the refugees that make it to Europe.
The Times reckons there are 160,000 refugees to be distributed, this would give Portugal an allocation of between 6,000 and 7,500.
Germany’s Angela Merkel now is promoting mandatory quotas for countries which would so away with any haggling to reduce intake.
The Portuguese Government asked for a reduction in numbers back in July after the initial proposal that Portugal tales in 2,400 people.
Brussels then changed the system and introduced some variable such as unemployment rate which enabled Portugal to get its quota down to 1,500.
The Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Regional Development, Miguel Poiares Maduro, said that "it is a duty" for Europe to receive refugees.
Spain says it is struggling though as its unemployment rate is 22% yet it is being asked to take its allocation of 16,800.
David Cameron said that the UK "will fulfill its moral responsibility" adding to earlier vacuous statements but he is looking at a bombing campaign in Syria to halt the advance of ISIS.
The talks go on and the refugees keep on coming, at least in Germany a trainload was welcomed by locals with cheers, banners and food.
