Portugal should continue to be a welcoming country while ensuring mechanisms for the control and monitoring of those entering the country. The government aims to strengthen border control through the implementation of the National Foreigners and Borders Unit, a PSP unit responsible for airport border control, returns, and the monitoring of foreigners’ stay in national territory, the document states.
The OE2026 proposal, presented today at the Assembly of the Republic, reports the completion of new Temporary Installation Centers and Comparable Spaces, aimed at optimizing the migrant screening model at the European Union’s external borders, in close coordination with European commitments on migration and asylum.
The document emphasizes that preventing and combating illegal immigration and human trafficking requires enhanced integrated actions in the field, involving security forces and services, the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum, and other inspection entities, promoting operational cooperation and victim protection.
The OE2026 proposal in the area of Internal Administration also highlights the objective of effectively strengthening security forces.
“Visible, community-based policing that conveys public tranquility and the humanitarian support of our forces to populations, alongside enhanced preventive capabilities and a rapid, robust, and reactive response, particularly against violent and serious crime and organized crime, requires an increase in the number of security forces,” the proposal states.
The government aims to provide PSP and GNR personnel with the necessary resources and strengthen their socio-professional standing. Additionally, it considers essential the improvement of police force working conditions, in statutory terms, to increase career attractiveness and bolster recruitment to strengthen the staff count.
To achieve the goals of “strengthening border control” and “strengthening the security forces,” the Ministry of Internal Administration has budgeted 2.543 million euros for the upcoming year.
