Brussels, 01/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 1 August, the European Commission authorised the prolongation until 31 December 2013 of a guarantee scheme for banks in Portugal. This is the eighth six-month extension of a Portuguese guarantee scheme initially approved on 29 October 2008 with an initial budget of €20 billion to cover the issue of short- and medium-term loans from solvent banks in Portugal. The guarantees are granted for loans of up to three years, or exceptionally five years when...