Since July 22, when Portuguese officials decided to restart border inspections owing to World Youth Day, through August 3, 1,025,937 individuals have been controlled at Portugal’s borders, while 157 have been denied entry.
According to local media reports, the security operation for this time period is now the largest ever, in Portugal, Genef Consults reports.
The operation included all air, land and marine entries. According to the most recent operating balance of the Internal Security System, a total of 5,171 flights have been regulated up until this point, with the majority of them coming from countries outside the Schengen zone.
The decision by Portugal’s Foreigners and Border Service (SEF) to reintroduce border controls with its neighbouring country, Spain, was confirmed in a statement, with the same emphasising that such rules would remain in effect until August 7, carried out by SEF in collaboration with the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republic Guard (GNR).
“Given the complexity of the event and the need to guarantee internal security, the Government understood that it was necessary to reintroduce documentary control at land borders,” SEF noted in a statement.
Spain recently announced that it would assist Portugal in conducting border checks during World Youth Day, owing to the considerable increase in traffic predicted during this occasion.
Authorities in Spain implemented a Specific Mobility Plan. According to the plan, The Civil Guard’s Traffic Group will step up efforts to supervise, monitor and regulate traffic along the principal and secondary routes of these vehicles.
“Specific controls will be established to verify that journeys, especially long distance ones are made safely, aimed at guaranteeing the vehicle’s general condition (tyres, load arrangement, etc.) and informing about the risks of driving without adequate rest,” the Ministry’s statement noted.
Local media reports stated that Traffic Management Centers would use changeable message routes to provide real-time updates on traffic incidents, as well as conditions along transit routes.