Portugal’s Minister for the Environment João Matos Fernandes has assured the public that the Almaraz nuclear power station, situated 100kms over the Portuguese-Spanish border, is totally safe.

The minister said on Friday that the Almaraz nuclear power station will be one of the first issues to be addressed with the future government of Spain, but in the meantime assured the Portuguese public that the station's equipment is operating in "total safety."

The government is raising its stake from 34% to 50% in the formerly state owned TAP airline as a result of negotiations with Gateway, which had 61% of the company's shares and will be left with 45%.

Gateway may reach 50% if it buys the shares allocated to the airline’s workers.  

Portugal’s bloated banking sector has made only half-hearted efforts to reduce costs by laying off staff, just 7,000 job losses in the last five years, many with comfy early retirement packages.

The banks claim that reductions in operating costs have been a top priority but strong unions have ensured low lay-off rates with BCP reducing staff by just 309 employees despite a job reduction agreement under its restructuring plan, necessary to achieve in order to pay back the taxpayer.

Crafty Parmesan producers in Italy have converted their cheese into bonds.

A cooperative near Modena in Italy's northern gastronomic heartland Emilia Romagna has raised €6 million by issuing bonds guaranteed by wheels of its Parmesan cheese.

Changes in the spelling of some 2,400 French words have sparked indignation among traditionalists.

When the word “oignon” can be replaced with “ognon”, guardians of the language fear French will be boiled down to a medium just for “text messaging”.

Brussels has approved Portugal’s 2016 State Budget proposal, but has attached a health warning that there is a risk of default.

The European Commissioners have given the green light to António Costa’s socialist agenda and the often tense negotiations now are over, to the relief of Angela Merkel who said "it is important the Portugal succeeds."

The Algarve’s hoteliers association reports that January tourism figures were up 16% year-on-year with a consequent welcome rise in income.

The provisional figures are for an increase in tourist numbers of 15.9%, up 4.6 points, to a 33.6% occupancy level.

This figure is better than for every January since the 36.7% occupancy rate recorded in 2007.

Portugal wants Britain to stay in the European Union, but while the new Socialist government will listen to Prime Minister David Cameron’s requests for EU reforms, certain demands would be beyond the pale.

“Our position is very simple,” said Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, this week. “We will do everything in our power so that the UK remains in the EU.”