The EU’s decision on Thursday to remove customs duty on olive oil from Tunisia has brought Italian producers to their feet.
Some 70,000 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil imports over the coming two years may be imported without customs charges. The decision is part of a plan to help Tunisia’s struggling economy.
The Minister of Culture had nothing intelligent to say when questioned by Algarve MP, José Carlos Barros, as to why the regional budget for culture has gone down rather than up, or at least held steady.
In questioning Minister João Soares (pictured) during discussions on the detail of the 2016 State Budget, Barros said the culture budget documents were “heavy on Word but light on Excel” with a fine supporting commentary by the minister leading to an actual drop in funding for culture in the Algarve region.
Whitestar and Gesphone, two companies acquired by Arrow Global in 2015, received benefits from the Portuguese taxpayer of €381,700 between 2012 and 2014.
'Tax allowances funded by the public' is but one of the issues that left wing parties’ MPs want clarifying in relation to the former Finance Minister, Maria Luis Albuquerque and her new job at Arrow Global.
Reported domestic violence have risen 50% in the past three years, according to Portugal’s Attorney General who described the figure as overwhelming.
Much of the rise can be put down to more women coming forward to lodge complaints with Joana Marquês Vidal (pictured below) saying that there had been an increase in cases reported and a greater trust from women in the police response.
Eight thousand foreigners have moved to Portugal to take advantage of a special 20% income tax rate but countries such as Finland already are studying measures to end the scheme.
Portugal has welcomed 5,653 foreigners granting them Non Habitual Residency status which allows an exemption from income tax if they have retired or payment of income tax at a flat rate of 20%, the same as the tax on an annual income of €7,035 in Portugal.
Immigrants in Italy who originated from outside EU countries paid sufficient social contributions to fund the pensions of more than half a million Italian retirees.
The non-EU immigrants were also responsible for creating just about one in five (18%) new companies registered in Italy in 2014.
The Spanish retail giant Inditex, owner of Zara and other fashion brands, announced that net profits soared 15% to €2.88 million in the 2015 year period.
Sales were also up by 15% reaching nearly €21 billion.
As shareholders in Portugal's former State-owned airline TAP reel from devasating 2015 losses, they unanimously have approved the issuing of a convertible bond for €120 million which is needed to keep the airline solvent.
The loan got the green light from the National Civil Aviation Authority despite the threat of a Chinese company buying partial control of Portugal's former flag carrier.
