Associations representing the fishermen and shellfishermen of Olhão and Faro want the ‘Armona island pilot area for aquaculture production’ (APPAA) reduced in size as it is not being used, yet locals are prohibited from fishing there.

Six years after the governmenmt created this special, non-fishing area, off Armona, "more than 50% percent of the area occupied by APPAA is not being exploited,” according to local groups who question the government’s assessment of the economic viability of the project and want the area it covers re-opened.

Across the eurozone, the average hourly cost of labour was €28.40 in 2013.

In Portugal, however, that figure stood at €11.60. The hourly wage dropped -5.1% from 2008 when it was €12.20.

Interest rates are to remain at the record low of 0.25% in the eurozone.

The European Central Bank has kept the rates unchanged since November 2013 when the ECB said it expected "a prolonged period of low inflation".

The European Parliament has voted to end mobile roaming charges in Europe.

The change is due to take effect from 15 December next year. It still needs to receive approval from EU governments.

Santander is no longer being paid by the four transport companies which have accumulated potential Swaps contract losses of over €1.2 billion as at the end of February, according to the president of Portugal’s Treasury Management Agency for Public Debt (IGCP) at a hearing in Parliament.

According to João Moreira Rato, the greatest risk of loss is when these contracts reach maturity or are cancelled.

The motorcaravan brigade that in February were welcomed back by an increasingly desperate Silves council again have been moved on by an intransigent police force which continues to uphold the law about parking in public spaces.

The latest police action occurred without liaison with Silves council which is trying to encourage the motorcaravanners’ return to boost an ailing local economy.

In a surge of optimism, sales in Portugal of all light vehicles this March increased 51.8% compared to the same month last year.

In the period from January to March 2014 there has been an annual growth of 43.8% bringing some cheer to a battered vehicle retail sector.

Prime Minister Cameron is believed to have some sympathy for expat pensioners whose state pensions have been frozen, according to one MP fighting to change the policy.

At present, pensioner expats in certain countries, often commonwealth ones, have their pensions frozen at the time of retirement without benefitting from inflation-linked rises.