According to José Luís Carneiro, Minister of Internal Administration, control of the maritime borders by the GNR took place without incident, while at the air borders, 11 citizens were placed in spaces equivalent to temporary installation centres.

“There were 11 passengers who stayed in spaces equivalent to temporary installation centres because they did not meet the conditions to enter the Schengen area, which shows that the security conditions also worked effectively”, said the official.

The Minister of Internal Administration was speaking at Gago Coutinho Airport, in Faro, on a visit to recognise the work of professionals from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), which has now been abolished, and from the PSP, at the time of transition of skills between the two institutions.

Waiting time reduction

According to the official, at Lisbon airport, on Sunday, the average waiting time for passengers undergoing control was 30 minutes, which is equivalent to a reduction of one-third of the average time waiting.

At Faro airport, until 20:00 yesterday evening, 79 flights and a total of 13,128 passengers were controlled, with an average waiting time of 10 minutes being recorded, which was “the shortest waiting time there has been since operations at the airport from Faro”, he highlighted.

Asked what this reduction in waiting times is due to, the Minister of Internal Administration replied that there are more human resources: at both the air and sea borders, around 90 more elements are now working.

Given this data, journalists asked José Luís Carneiro whether this reinforcement of resources at the borders could not harm other sectors, to which the minister replied that, in 2022, 2,500 new officers were admitted to the PSP and GNR.

“This year we will admit another 1,500 new members. 580 new police officers finished a few days ago and another 500 will enter training in November. This reinforcement of human resources also has to do with the objective of strengthening resources at air, sea and land borders”.

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) was abolished yesterday, with the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) taking effect, which will succeed this service in administrative matters of issuing documents to foreigners.

SEF's powers will be transferred to seven bodies, passing police functions to the PSP, GNR and PJ, while administrative matters related to foreign citizens will go to the new agency and the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN).