In 2025, a total of 603 obsolete and environmentally harmful barriers were removed from European rivers, setting a new record. This number represents a significant breakthrough and strengthens the goal of restoring 25,000 kilometres of watercourses by 2030.
However, Portugal's contribution to this effort was negligible. Despite the existence of a national plan that frames these river barrier removal operations, on the ground things are advancing very slowly.
Portugal is thus falling behind other European countries in achieving this river restoration goal, although the country has the legislative and strategic framework in place to carry out these operations.
