“Regarding the possibility of suspending the Schengen Area: this scenario is not on the table. Our priority and our focus, at this moment, is to ensure that Member States are ready for the Entry and Exit System to come into force”, a spokesperson for the community executive told Lusa, recalling that the new system has to be implemented “in autumn 2024”.

At the end of April, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, António Leitão Amaro, raised the possibility of the country being suspended from the Schengen Area - a European area of free movement of people and goods that brings together the 27 countries of the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland - for non-compliance with these changes.

“If we don’t succeed, we will reach July and be suspended”, said Leitão Amaro, adding that it would be a “huge problem for Portuguese tourism”.

The minister pointed the finger at the previous Government, which in March approved the authorization of expenditure of 25 million euros, but did not launch the tender for the acquisition of equipment, which will now have to be acquired by direct agreement, reported the weekly Expresso in the May 9 edition.

The Internal Security System (SSI) assured today that Portugal “is no longer at risk of suspension of the Schengen area", highlighting that it has caught up with the delay in installing the new digital and biometric border control system.

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