An amendment to the budget, resulting in an extension of a current initiative for purchasing physical books, has been approved during the specialized voting of the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026). This amendment, presented by Chega, introduces a 60-euro e-book voucher within the 2026 edition of the Book Voucher Program, in the same terms as the physical book voucher. This benefit is available to individuals residing in national territory who hold a citizen card and turn 18 during that calendar year.
In today’s budget voting, a PCP initiative to progressively remove existing and identified architectural barriers was also approved. This measure aims for the government to make necessary adaptations to ensure proper accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges.
Next year, the government should collaborate with infrastructure managing entities to construct phased tactile signaling on the floors of all train and metro stations, bus terminals, maritime and river terminals, airport terminals, public transport stops, fuel stations, and service areas where such signaling does not exist.
Although this measure was approved, a proposal aimed at creating a multi-year financing program for adapting and eliminating architectural barriers in homes of individuals with disabilities and mobility constraints was rejected.
Another point aiming for the transfer of necessary funds by the Finance Ministry to the responsible entities for interventions, exempting them from government member authorizations, was also dropped.
A similar proposal for the progressive elimination of architectural barriers was partially approved in OE2025.
