A new Eurobarometer survey shows that 66% of Portuguese respondents feel national authorities are ill-prepared for natural disasters like fires and floods, which is the fourth-highest skepticism rate in the EU. Additionally, 69% doubt the preparedness of local and regional authorities, and 66% feel personally unprepared to handle local emergencies.
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The government approved a decree-law on 29 October to implement recent changes to the Nationality Law, including formalising new requirements for language, history, and cultural knowledge, as well as financial and democratic-principle declarations. The residency requirement for citizenship is increasing to seven years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking African countries and EU member states, and ten years for applicants from other countries. The full text, including commencement dates and specific documentation requirements, awaits publication in the Diário da República.
The government plans to launch a unified GNR Traffic Brigade in early 2027 to improve road enforcement and coordination. Additionally, the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) will begin digitizing all traffic fines starting in January 2027 to reduce administrative delays and legal challenges.
The Minister of Internal Administration reported that the average maximum waiting time for border control at Lisbon Airport was 68 minutes in September 2026, representing a 47% decrease compared to 2025. This improvement was attributed to increased PSP staffing, reorganized procedures, and new equipment, despite a 19.2% increase in passenger volume at the airport compared to the previous year.