Gaviao, Portugal, Aug. 6, 2026 (Lusa) - The minister of the economy and territorial cohesion has argued that «throwing the doors wide open» to migration «has not worked out well», but he points out that Portugal is willing to welcome all immigrants who are able to work.
«Any immigrants who wish to enter Portugal and who are able to work – particularly if they have a job and a home – can enter very easily; it is almost like a fast-track process,» said Manuel Castro Almeida.
«We only restrict the indiscriminate entry of anyone who wishes to enter – that cannot be allowed. Having the doors wide open has not worked out well, but anyone who is able to work is very welcome in Portugal,» he added.
The minister was speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Gavião, in the region of Portalegre, on the sidelines of the contract-signing ceremony for the «Grow with Tourism» Programme, involving the Portuguese Tourism Board and the municipality, worth €324,000.
The minister also reminded journalists that «there is practically no unemployment» in Portugal, adding that unemployment «is at an all-time low» and the level of employment «is at an all-time high».
«The fact that there is no unemployment is a huge advantage for the country; now you might say that more people are needed to work, and we are open to immigration from those who are able to work,» he argued.
He also said that rising fuel prices «are driving up inflation» and that, were it not for this, inflation would be lower at this time.
«If it weren't for the rise in fuel prices, inflation would be much lower; it has been falling for three months running – but it is still at 3%. If it weren't for fuel prices, it would be much lower; unfortunately, fuel prices are driving up inflation,» he lamented.
In the minister's view, the figures for the Portuguese economy «are, on the whole, very positive», noting that the latest available data indicate that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) «is growing» and that, in the last quarter, it grew by «2.5%» and, «quarter-on-quarter, by 0.8%», which is «double the European average».
«Inflation has been falling for three months running, public finances are in balance, exports are growing, tourism is growing; the only outlier that emerged recently was the public debt figure, but that is entirely circumstantial,» he said.
For him, «what matters» is comparing public debt at the end of 2025 with that at the end of 2026.
«I have absolutely no doubt that it will continue to fall; public debt is continuing to fall – it had risen due to temporary circumstances, but it will continue to fall,» he said.
Finally, he warned that «we need to bring down» inflation, a situation he says is already happening, but there is still some way to go in relation to European GDP per capita.
«However, we have a problem: everything is going well, we are taking steps in the right direction, but we are still at 80% of the European per capita GDP; we still have a long way to go,» he added.
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