EN125: who’s the winner?

en125postWork on the Algarve's EN125 has crept on for years causing huge delays, especially in rush hour.

This does not occur in other countries where interruptions are at other times and scheduled roadworks have deadlines that are monitored.

Ambassador in the Algarve with a 'get registered to vote' pre-referendum message

voteUKThe British Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, was interviewed on the Algarve’s KissFM as part of her mission to encourage expat Britons to register in the UK to be able to vote.

Registration is especially important with the United Kingdom referendum coming up as the electorate is being asked to decide whether the UK stays in the European Union or not.

In southern Europe, an astute negotiator unpicks austerity

costaAPress2He doesn't boast about being an expert deal-maker like Donald Trump, but new Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa is quietly building a reputation as a canny negotiator and a government leader to watch in southern Europe by doing what many people thought was impossible.

While Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras struggles with the competing demands of bailout creditors and demonstrators on budget austerity cuts, and with Spain's top politicians unable to unblock a post-election stalemate, Costa is providing a lesson for Europe's financially troubled southern countries on how to move things forward.

Public meeting set for Silves Cork Museum debate

corkmuseumSilves council is to hold an all day public meeting (times below) to discuss the future of the Cork Museum and Fábrica do Inglês with councillors keen to find a solution to the site that has lain derelict and vandalised for over six years.

The session will be held on the 20th of February at the Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório in Silves.

The initiative comes from the Portuguese Association of Industrial Archaeology and the Portuguese Association of Museums, with the support of the Silves council.

Impact of Brexit on 2 Million Expat Brits & Other Major Issues

Impact of Brexit on 2 Million Expat Brits & Other Major IssuesFast forward to 22.50 minutes the BBC Radio 4 podcast below and listen to Jean-Claude Perez, who served for 23 years as Head of Legal Services to the EU Council of Ministers, talking about the implications of a Brexit for the 2 million British citizens currently benefiting from being EU citizens when studying, working or living in other EU member states.

Other interviews in this podcast also cover the other major issues involved in a Brexit for the UK as a whole.

EU referendum: expats fear time is running out to get voting rights restored before poll

4801The Telegraph reports that Britons in Europe are worried that the in/out vote will take place before they become eligible to participate as the Government drags its feet on the issue

Campaigners have responded with concern to a statement which reiterated a government pledge to restore voting rights for all British expats – without indicating whether this will happen in time for the EU referendum.

UK referendum - the BBC wants expat views

4801British Prime Minister David Cameron is to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.

Cameron has said he is determined to deliver reform of the EU for the British people so they get a proper choice in a referendum on whether to stay in, or leave the union.

Portugal's political crisis - as viewed from California

lisbon2The recent Portuguese election on October 4th was "inconclusive". The center-right scored the most votes but could not muster a coalition majority.

A coalition of leftist parties could form a government, but the president of Portugal (a largely symbolic position except in cases like these) refused to appoint a leftist prime minister on the grounds that they represent anti-European forces. Instead the president allowed the pro-EU Prime Minister to stay in place.