The Portuguese government decided to suspend, for three months, the application of the new European entry and exit control system, the Entry Exit System (EES), at Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, after the worsening of queues and delays in the immigration area recorded in recent days.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the decision was taken in view of the operational difficulties generated by the implementation of the European electronic system, which began to digitally record the entry and exit of passengers from countries outside the European Union. The EES came into force in Portugal in October this year.
According to the ministry, in addition to the temporary suspension of the EES – which is provided for in the European regulations themselves – the government ordered the immediate reinforcement of police personnel at the airport. National Guard soldiers will be deployed to support the local migration control during the disembarkation of passengers.
Reports published by the newspaper The Globe point out that passengers – especially Brazilians – faced waits of up to eight hours in immigration queues in Lisbon because of the new system. Complaints include lack of information, lost connections, lack of priority service and episodes of discomfort among travelers.
According to unions and associations linked to airport security, the implementation of the new European system at Lisbon airport occurred without proportional reinforcement of personnel and infrastructure, which contributed to the temporary collapse of service in the immigration area.
