CDS-PP do Algarve solicita a suspensão do concurso da incineradora e apresenta ao Governo alternativa de economia circular já orçamentada

O CDS-PP do Algarve confirma que vai apresentar nas assembleias municipais da região, moções de oposição à instalação de uma incineradora de resíduos no Algarve, e reitera o apelo à Ministra do Ambiente e Energia, Graça Carvalho, para que suspenda o concurso público que a Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) anunciou lançar já no dia 15 de outubro.

Na Assembleia Municipal de Portimão, realizada no dia 29 de setembro, a moção apresentada pelo Grupo Municipal do CDS-PP foi rejeitada com os votos contra do PS, PSD e CHEGA. A IL absteve-se, tendo a moção contado com os votos favoráveis do CDS-PP e do BE.

Esta posição surge “depois de a Distrital do CDS-PP (Algarve) ter remetido à tutela um memorando técnico-político detalhado, propondo uma solução alternativa de “Zero Aterro” para o Algarve, assente na descentralização da valorização orgânica (duas novas Centrais de Valorização Orgânica, ambas em terrenos xistosos, podendo uma ser localizada na zona serrana do Concelho de Silves e a outra na zona da Serra de Espinhaço de Cão) e na transformação da fração resto em Combustível Derivado de Resíduos (CDR), através de duas unidades de secagem e pelotização a instalar nos terrenos brownfield dos atuais aterros de Portimão e Loulé, com escoamento por via marítima e ferroviária, sem necessidade de construção de qualquer incineradora”, lê-se em comunicado de imprensa.

O CDS-PP sublinha que “esta alternativa técnica tem um investimento estimado de 229,11 milhões de euros, sem IVA e a preços de 2026, ou de 209,11 milhões de euros na variante com complemento térmico a gás. Trata-se de uma estimativa de estudo prévio, inferior aos cerca de 300 milhões de euros estimados para a incineradora, e a alternativa é plenamente elegível para os fundos de coesão previstos na própria Estratégia TERRA+, aprovada pelo Governo através da Resolução do Conselho de Ministros n.º 181/2026”.

Para o partido, avançar com o concurso da incineradora sem que estes estudos e propostas alternativas tenham sido publicamente avaliados, e sem cumprir a garantia de decisão “em coordenação” com os presidentes de câmara, constitui uma falha grave de transparência e de participação democrática num processo com impacto direto na saúde pública, no ambiente e na principal atividade económica da região, o turismo.

O CDS-PP recorda que “a região produz cerca de 400 mil toneladas de resíduos por ano, das quais cerca de 85% têm atualmente como destino o aterro, e que os dois aterros sanitários existentes poderão esgotar a sua capacidade já em 2027. O partido reconhece a urgência de uma solução, mas insiste que essa urgência não pode servir de pretexto para avançar com uma tecnologia desadequada à sazonalidade extrema da procura turística algarvia, nem para gastar mais do que o necessário numa infraestrutura fortemente contestada em todo o país”.

O CDS-PP do Algarve solicita por isso, a suspensão imediata do concurso público agendado para 15 de outubro, a publicação e discussão pública dos estudos técnicos que sustentam a opção pela incineração, a avaliação formal, pela APA, pela ERSAR e pela Agência para o Clima, da alternativa de economia circular apresentada pela Distrital de Faro, a realização de um debate público regional alargado, com autarquias, associações ambientalistas e organizações empresariais e o envio do teor desta posição, e das moções a aprovar nas assembleias municipais, à Presidência da República, aos partidos com assento na Assembleia da República, ao Primeiro-Ministro, à Ministra do Ambiente e Energia, à AMAL e à CCDR Algarve.

“Reafirmamos total disponibilidade para colaborar com o Governo na construção de uma solução séria, sustentável e economicamente responsável para os resíduos da região, mas não aceitaremos que essa solução seja imposta sem debate, nem que o Algarve seja penalizado com uma infraestrutura desenhada para outras realidades territoriais”.

There are moments in the life of democracies when parliament, because of its divisions and deadlocks, is unable to respond to the urgent needs of a country — and when that happens, it means it is time to give citizens a voice. Spain is living through one of those moments.

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In this edition: the cuckoo’s nest, fruitful work, keys and locks, commander in fief; perfect sound forever, and more.

Just a few years ago, Jos Leijdekkers was a gangster in Antwerp, working for a major drug lord. Today he’s the most powerful man in Sierra Leone, which he’s single-handedly turned into a crucial port in the transatlantic cocaine trade. European authorities haven’t been able to track him down. Can a journalist? Alexander Clapp details Leijdekkers’s remarkable, violent rise to power, while looking for the man himself:

“These kinds of people, we are always seeing them in Africa. They come, they disappear. But the moment we learned who he was, it freaked me out,” a local car-dealer who was one of the first people to sell a motor to Leijdekkers, told me. “I left Sierra Leone after finding out. I became really scared. Not small scared.” Sophie van Leeuwen, a Dutch correspondent for RTL News, told me she “had the strong feeling I was being followed by the secret police” during the first days of a reporting trip she took to Sierra Leone in February 2025. She was arrested outside a villa where Leijdekkers was believed to reside, informed that she had intruded upon a “special security situation”, and questioned for 15 hours. Her camera and computer were searched and scrubbed. The Flemish owner of her hotel was interrogated over her alleged role in seeding a European spy network in Sierra Leone.

One evening in the hills above Freetown I attended a cocktail party where Western diplomats mingled with aid-workers. “Careful with that,” a European mission head told me when I mentioned why I had come to Africa, swivelling her blue eyes round the room. A Norwegian mining investor assured me that there would only be one way of knowing whether I was making progress in my investigation: “The government will arrange a car crash for you.”

Alejandro Betancourt’s tentacles in Spain are long. The Venezuelan businessman who amassed a fortune after his country’s power crisis at the end of the 2010s has seen his wealth rise again after the Trump administration touched him with the magic oil wand, entrusting him with crude exploitation in a deal with the government of Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez. The billionaire’s assets in Madrid alone are substantial, according to police documents that are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering. Authorities seized five luxury cars, a United Arab Emirates residency card and 17 firearms at his private estate in Toledo.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the podium Photographer: Dati Bendo © European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union address on Wednesday (16 September) to make the case for a more independent Europe, confronting war, economic competition, AI disruption and climate change — while proposing Canada become the EU’s first associate member.

Opening her #SOTEU speech with Charles Dickens’ “best of times, worst of times”, von der Leyen described a Union stronger but also more exposed to external threats.

“The state of our Union is the strongest it has ever been,” she said, while acknowledging it could feel “as precarious as it has ever been”. “Europe has chosen to forge its own path. And a stronger, independent Europe is now emerging.”

Competitiveness and energy

Von der Leyen called kickstarting Europe’s economy her “number one priority”, promising faster permitting, less red tape and further integration of the Single Market.

The Commission will propose a new Banking Package and create a European Corporation on Critical Raw Materials to secure supplies needed for chips, batteries, clean technology and defence.

With high energy costs weighing on European industry, von der Leyen called for faster electrification and investment in grids, renewables and nuclear power to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Climate after a 'summer of truth'

After a summer of fires, drought and extreme heat, von der Leyen promised a climate resilience framework focused on 100 of Europe’s most vulnerable territories, alongside a Climate Insurance Alliance, European Heatwave Plan and Water Initiative.

She also floated a future European Firefighting Fleet, declaring that Europe “can, must and will stay the course” on its climate targets.

AI: Opportunity and threat

AI was presented as both an economic opportunity and an emerging security threat. Von der Leyen warned that advanced models could enable hacking “on a level we never thought possible” and pledged closer cooperation with Canada, the UK and others on AI security.

At the same time, Europe will expand computing capacity and push AI into health, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, defence and space. “Above all, we want AI with human agency,” she said.

Jobs, housing and social rights

The Commission plans a Quality Jobs Act before the end of the year and a European Care Deal, alongside measures tackling housing pressures.

Von der Leyen said technological change must benefit workers, while strongly defending women’s rights and Europe’s social model.

PHOTO  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the podium Photographer: Dati Bendo © European Union

Canada moves closer

One of the biggest surprises came with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the chamber.

Von der Leyen proposed an “Alliance for the Future” spanning technology, defence, energy, critical minerals, AI and the Arctic — before going further.

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” she told Carney. “We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world.”

Security, defence and Ukraine

With drone incursions, cyberattacks and sabotage raising security concerns inside the EU, von der Leyen proposed a new European security strategy and an Emergency Security Protocol for incidents falling below the threshold of armed aggression.

She also wants to establish a European Security Council and strengthen joint European defence capabilities.

Ukraine faces what von der Leyen called the “toughest winter of the war”. She promised humanitarian and energy support, stronger air defences and deeper defence-industrial cooperation with Kyiv.

Borders, democracy and children online

The Commission will propose an Emergency Response Framework for exceptional migration crises and strengthen Frontex, while launching a Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs initiative.

Von der Leyen also announced an EU KIDS ACT, including no social media for under-13s and restrictions for children under 15, followed by a broader Digital Fairness Act.

Political groups draw battle lines

EPP leader Manfred Weber backed the focus on AI, defence and competitiveness but pushed against restrictive climate policies. “Climate change is a reality,” he said, arguing Europe needed “innovation and not bans.”

S&D leader Iratxe García Pérez demanded that von der Leyen turn “words into action”, backing climate investment, housing and worker protections while warning that simplification must not become deregulation.

Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer made a pointed appeal for the Parliament’s pro-European majority, as the EPP has increasingly worked with parties further to the right on some legislation. “There’s only one possible majority. It’s our pro-European majority,” she said. “We need to do more. We need more Europe, and we need it more quickly.”

Greens/EFA co-chair Terry Reintke accused EU leaders of failing to respond urgently enough to extreme heat and wildfires. “We are in the middle of a climate emergency,” she said, demanding stronger Green Deal implementation while insisting: “We are not powerless. Europe is strong, and Europe can be even stronger.”

ECR co-chair Patryk Jaki struck a sharply different note, attacking the Commission over bureaucracy, energy costs and industrial competitiveness. Europe, he argued, was “as weak as it’s ever been.”

Von der Leyen closed on the central theme running through the speech: European sovereignty in an increasingly hostile world.

“The fate of Europe,” she said, “must remain in the hands of Europeans.”

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WhatsApp has also indicated that it may automatically add the label in some cases.

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