About a month ago, new border control systems were installed at Portuguese airports, which are causing passengers from countries outside the Schengen Area to wait several hours for immigration control.

Some airlines, such as easyJet, are warning passengers outside the Schengen Area about possible queues and delays at border control at Portuguese airports.

An official source from the PSP, the police force that controls borders at airports, told Lusa that the queues are not related to a lack of human resources, but rather because the system is slow.

In a response sent to Lusa, the Internal Security System (SSI), which is part of the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit, a structure created within the SSI after the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service, states that the increase in queues at passport control is due to “the increase in the number of passengers, between 10% and 15%, depending on the airports, the increase in the number of flights and their concentration at certain times of the day and the greater demand for mandatory controls defined by European regulations”.

The SSI highlights that, with these new systems, “border control now includes an increased number of security checks and queries to international databases, required by the regulations, which means “more security and technology and, naturally, the need for an adaptation period, both for the systems themselves and for professionals on the ground”.

“The systems are working and, despite the complexity, the operation is proceeding as planned. It is important to note that, since we are at a time of greater passenger influx, what we can assure you is that all entities involved are working closely together on a daily basis to ensure the best possible travel experience”, states the SSI.

When asked about the reasons for the systems being slow and when the problem will be resolved, the SSI responded: “Based on ongoing monitoring, several actions have been implemented to improve the service, with the reinforcement of network capacity, the installation of new communication equipment, the commissioning of more automatic passenger control equipment (Rapids) for the airports of Lisbon, Faro, Porto, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Porto Santo and Lages, as well as ongoing training for border guards”.

The Internal Security System guarantees that, “in collaboration with all entities and partner companies involved, it monitors the situation at all national airports on a minute-by-minute basis” and acts “immediately to resolve all situations in order to minimize the impact caused to travellers”.

“The priority is to ensure that the process of adapting to the new systems occurs in the most effective way, with the least possible impact”, says the SSI.

The systems in question are ‘VIS4’ (European Visa Information System), ‘PASSE+’ (National Air and Land Border Control System) and the Borders Portal.

Recently, the Police Professionals’ Trade Union Association (ASPP/PSP) warned of the exhaustion of professionals assigned to the Immigration and Borders Unit due to various situations that are experienced at airports, having drawn attention to the fact that with summer approaching, efforts are needed to “overcome obstacles and mitigate damage to citizens, but mainly to PSP professionals”.

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