Full merger for Lisbon and Setúbal

A more limited policy was first announced in early 2016, when the government said that it wanted to see a common port authority put in place. This will be implemented on an accrual basis, but only for the purpose of strategic planning and the promotion of organisational and operational synergies.

Ms Vitorino now concedes that this will be a provisional solution, since the new aim is to go for a 100% merger of all functions carried out by APL and APSS.

“Having the same board of directors for both ports was done because it was the fastest solution. In the long term – which I hope will be sooner rather than later – we will have a holding company [in place], [albeit] with more operational areas that will continue to be autonomous,” said the Minister.