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Document checks at borders entered into force today

Document checks at borders entered into force today

Documentary control at air, sea and land borders in the context of World Youth Day (WYD) came into force today and will be done selectively and targeted based on information and risk analysis.

The reinstatement of documentary border controls will remain active until 00:00 on August 7 and is “exceptional in order to safeguard possible threats to public order and internal security”, according to a Government resolution.

Border control in the context of WYD, an event that will take place in Lisbon between August 1 and 6 and will be attended by Pope Francis, will be in charge of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), with the assistance of the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR), in addition to the possible collaboration of authorities from other countries.

In a response sent to Lusa, SEF will use in border control, in addition to the existing equipment, the ‘SEFMobile’ system, which allows to carry out “border controls and inspection actions in a mobile, efficient, fast and safe way”, having also distributed these devices to the GNR staff who, in collaboration with the Foreigners and Borders Service, will be at land borders.

According to SEF, the authorized crossing points between Spain and Portugal are 21, where SEF and GNR, “in a joint effort and in a concerted manner, will control the land border”.

“The controls will be selective and temporary, taking into account the risk analysis, so a permanent control device has not been set up,” the security service states.

SEF will act from the five Police and Customs Cooperation Centers (CCPA), and with the collaboration of the Spanish authorities, namely the National Police Corps, which will reinforce its device in the CCPA to collaborate in the operation.

In addition to the continuous presence in the CCPA, SEF has mobile teams that, in conjunction with the GNR device, guarantee the replacement of documentary controls whenever necessary, advances that security force.

SEF has reinforced the staff in the CCPA of Tui, Vilar Formoso, Caia and Castro Marim, which will be the points with the greatest flow, with a total of more than 100 inspectors involved, from north to south.

Regarding border areas, SEF has 325 inspectors at the five international airports, complemented by PSP staff trained for this purpose.

SEF states that at airports there will be “a special focus on carrying out selective checks based on prior risk analysis for Schengen flights and for children under 18 when unaccompanied by those exercising parental responsibilities”, in addition to carrying out “a prior analysis of passenger information and establishing close cooperation and exchange of information between agencies”.

The Council of Ministers’ resolution stipulates that the control “must respect the principle of proportionality, limiting itself to the minimum strictly necessary to respond to possible threats to public order and internal security”, in order to mitigate the impact on the movement of people.

“Considering the size, characteristics, complexity of the event, its media visibility, the huge influx of people expected and the current threat context, there is a clear need to guarantee internal security, through appropriate measures, including the prevention of entry into national territory of citizens or groups whose behavior may be likely to compromise security”, the diploma also states.

The free movement of persons and goods within the Schengen area provides that internal border control may “be reintroduced exceptionally and for a limited period of time” if that state considers that there may be a threat to public order or the internal security of the country.

This border procedure was also adopted in the context of Pope Francis’ previous visit to Portugal in 2017.

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