A total of 1,025,937 people have been controlled at Portugal’s borders, while 157 people have been refused entry into this country since July 22, when Portuguese authorities decided to reinstate border checks due to World Youth Day, until August 3.
According to local media reports, this number makes the security operation of this period the biggest ever in Portugal.
The operation was conducted in all air, land, and sea entries. Based on the recent operational balance of the Internal Security System, a total of 5,171 flights have been controlled up to this point, with the majority of them coming from outside Schengen Zone countries.
At the same time, 896,696 passengers were inspected; of the total, 57 were subject to entry denial.
Besides, at land borders, a total of 15,390 vehicles as well as 56,987 people, were controlled, with 102 being banned from reaching Portugal. In addition, 1,436 vessels and 72,254 passengers were inspected at sea entry points.
Portugal’s decision to reintroduce border controls with its neighbouring country, Spain, was confirmed through a statement by Portugal’s Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), while the same emphasised that such rules would remain effective until August 7, carried by SEF together 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.
Recently, authorities in Spain said that they would be assisting Portugal in managing frontier checks during World Youth Day, taking into account the significant increase in traffic expected during this event.
Authorities in Spain said that more than 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to reach Lisbon during World Youth Day, which could lead to a significant increase in traffic, especially along the land routes connecting the French and Portugal borders and also the access roads to Portugal’s capital and the Sanctuary of Fatima.
Therefore, authorities in Spain introduced a Specific Mobility Plan. According to the plan, the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard will intensify its efforts to control, monitor, and regulate traffic along these vehicles’ primary and secondary routes.
“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 noted that Traffic Management Centers would use variable message panels to provide real-time updates on traffic incidents and as well as conditions along transit routes.
