The internal security system reports that Portugal is no longer at risk of suspension of the Schengen area

This Thursday, the Internal Security System (SSI) assured that Portugal “no longer risks” suspending the Schengen area, highlighting that it has already dealt with the delay in installing a new digital and biometric border control system.

In response to the news of the hypothetical suspension of Portugal, made about two weeks ago by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitan Amaru, and the position taken by the newspaper To express The representative of the European Commission, who excluded the scenario of suspension of the European space, noted in the SSI statement Brussels’ recognition of the work done.

“The European Commission (…) ensures that it cooperates with all member states, including Portugal, and there is no scenario for our country to be excluded from the Schengen area. She does not deny or correct either SSI or the government. On the contrary, it confirms the progress made. This means that SSI and the government are doing what they must, making every effort to ensure that Portugal becomes part of the new system,” the note said.

The statement also states that “as stated by the European Commission, the Government and SSI, Portugal is no longer exposed to the above-mentioned risk and no such non-compliance scenario arises.”

The body, headed by Secretary General Paulo Viseu Pinheiro, specified that it informed the government “of the tests and preparations for the launch of the entry and exit system (SES/EES) in October this year, and six months later the European Tourist Information and Authorization System (ETIAS )”.

He also mentioned that on 29 April he warned Leitan Amara “of the need for Portugal to comply with the deadlines (…) at the risk of being excluded from the Schengen area”, given that any failure to comply with this process “would effectively jeopardize Portugal’s full participation in the new system.

SSI also highlighted the previous government’s emergency spending authorization of up to 25 million euros, given in February to speed up the resolution of this situation, stressing that the organization and the executive branch are “adhering to the established timetable.”

“Since then, Portugal has been recovering from the delays, step by step informing the government, the Commission, the competent authorities and European partners,” SSI noted, without forgetting to emphasize that the country’s failure to achieve these goals would jeopardize the freedom of movement of people and would require the restoration of internal controls on borders, as well as the possibility of imposing controls in other Member States on people moving to and from Portugal.