The GNR, PSP, SEF and PJ signed on December 20, 2022, at MAI, in Lisbon, four protocols that established the model of cooperation between the security forces and services in the context of the restructuring of the Portuguese border control system.

“These protocols aimed to prepare the transfer of competences from SEF to the other security forces and services, within the framework of the restructuring of the national border control system, defining the actions to be developed together”, says the MAI office in a statement.

In addition to the training of 308 GNR and PSP personnel in border control, the ministry highlights the average daily commitment of 37 guards at maritime border posts and 29 police officers at air border posts.

“One of the conclusions of the positive assessment made by political and police officials is that the ongoing adaptation of the GNR and PSP staff, with the internalization of the routines and procedures of daily activity at the different border posts, will contribute to the progressive increase of the operational capacity of the country in the control of national borders”.

MAI also mentions that, since January 17, 146 elements of the GNR have reinforced shifts at national maritime border posts.

“In the Azores, the first GNR team – with 9 staff – joined SEF shifts from the 23rd at the maritime border”.

Regarding the PSP, the daily commitment of 20 police officers to control air borders at the main national airports is highlighted, which allowed “to control a total of 11,700 flights (arrivals and departures) and 1,739,921 passengers – 262,000 more than registered in the same period last year."

In turn, the guardianship recalls that, in terms of training, the third border control course for the PSP is attended by 43 police officers and ends this weekend, adding that until April there will be two more courses, at the end of which there will be 306 trained agents.

MAI refers that the collaboration between the PSP also contributed “to guarantee greater effectiveness and efficiency in the control procedures when crossing air borders”.

“This resulted, among other aspects, in a maximum average waiting time of 42 minutes by passengers in the border control area of airports between 05:00 and 07:15 – a period that coincides with the arrival peak of passengers”.

On December 20, 2022, José Luís Carneiro announced that the restructuring of the SEF would take place during the first quarter of 2023, rejecting, at the time, that it was the extinction of a security service.

“We are talking about restructuring, even from a legal point of view, we should talk about restructuring the SEF, because the skills and people who have these skills will continue to work in the internal security system. What is expected is that in the first quarter of 2023 we will have the conditions for this transition to take place”, José Luís Carneiro told journalists.