The Minister of Internal Administration admitted today that the introduction of the new European border control system for non-EU citizens “have gone very badly” at Portuguese airports, but denied that it was the “exclusive responsibility” of the PSP (Public Security Police).
“The introduction of these rules at airports have gone very badly,” said Maria Lúcia Amaral in parliament, adding that at Lisbon airport there have been average waiting times of three hours – and in recent days “they have reached six hours.”
“I do not deny the responsibility of the PSP (Public Security Police) and the UNEF (National Unit for Foreigners and Borders) in this, but I refuse to accept that it is the exclusive responsibility of the PSP. Things are more complex than that,” she added.
In addition to the PSP (Public Security Police), the new system also involves the Internal Security System – which controls the computer systems and the equipment that supports them – ANA Aeroportos de Portugal (the Portuguese airport authority), which generates the infrastructure, as well as contracts with private entities to ensure this equipment, writes Lusa – suggesting all of these could be equally to blame.
The minister stressed that the problems “cannot be resolved from one day to another” (or from one month to another) but ‘hopes’ that the situation will be ‘normalised by … April 2026.
Source: LUSA/ Expresso
