Portugal's Minister of Justice announced on April 14, 2026, that 17 of the 42 measures in the government's ambitious Anti-Corruption Agenda have been completed, with the majority of the remaining measures in progress. The agenda, spanning prevention, education, and repression, aims to build a more transparent and efficient state.
Key achievements include the approval of a Code of Conduct for the Government and a Risk Prevention Plan, making Portugal one of the first European countries with such a comprehensive instrument. The Lobby Law (Law No. 5-A/2026) established a mandatory Transparency Register for interest representatives. In public procurement, the BASE portal now publishes aggregated information on simplified direct awards, and a new AI-powered data analysis system is under development. The National Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MENAC) has been restructured with new leadership and governance.
On education, a Reference Framework for Ethics and Integrity has been integrated into school curricula across all cycles, making corruption and citizenship values compulsory subjects. In the repression pillar, two key bills were approved in general by the Assembly of the Republic: one on extended confiscation of assets from criminal activities, and another reforming criminal procedure to prevent delays. A multidisciplinary working group is also reforming criminal procedure, focusing on the instruction phase, appeals, and plea bargaining. Digital transformation of the justice system, including electronic case management for investigations since December 2024, is expected to speed up proceedings and enhance anti-corruption efforts.
The Minister emphasized the government's commitment to integrity, noting that only three measures have not yet started, pending evaluation of recently implemented regimes.
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