Portuguese society is facing a number of challenges similar to those in many other OECD countries: adjusting to the forces of globalisation in order to further benefit from its integration in the world economy; ageing population; a public sector facing increasing demand for quality service delivery while becoming more cost-efficient under tight budget restraints; and challenges in developing and spreading a new set of values to the overall public sector to ensure the transformation of an administrative culture which needs to become more dynamic and attentive to public needs and demands. The Portuguese government has recognised these challenges and has prioritised to improve the overall performance of the public sector for the greater benefit of society, and to become a more competitive economy in the global market. As a consequence, Portugal has asked the OECD for a peer review of administrative simplification and e-government as part of its continued effort to simplify the Portuguese public sector.