Portugal: The Government restored the EU border control strategy for EES at Lisbon Airport

The Portuguese Government restored the EU's Entry/Exit strategy (EES) border control system, which was suspended at the end of December due to frequent paralysis at the airport in Lisbon, present being transmitted to CM Radio.

The station recalled that although the implementation of the EES led to long passenger queues and delays in departures at all Portuguese airports, the most felt was at the capital airport where ‘it was essential to prepare the infrastructure’.

Since October, frequent and respective hours of delays in the clearance of non-EU passengers have affected the operation of the full airport in Lisbon.

The Association of Portuguese Aviation Companies (RENA) claims that the Humberto Delgado airport of Lisbon in October, erstwhile the fresh border control strategy began, was not prepared for this. It noted that this mechanics was not working decently despite the successive increase in the number of safety officers at the capital airport by the Ministry of Interior.

The EES concerns border management, allowing the registration of non-EU nationals who go on short stay in its territory. They have been registered since 12 October all time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries. The implementation of the fresh system, according to the first assumptions, would last for 6 months.