“We are working on and considering this contingency plan. We will present it in the coming days, taking into account the recent disruptions. It is planned and scheduled,” said Maria Lúcia Amaral in parliament, in response to a question from PS deputy Nuno Fazenda regarding the possibility of the government having a contingency plan to cope with an overload at Lisbon airport.

The Socialist MP lamented that the plan is not yet ready, since "Christmas is just around the corner" and "it should already be prepared," considering that "airport management cannot be done hastily."

Recently, the Internal Security System (SSI) admitted that the European border control system for non-EU citizens could be suspended during Christmas to avoid queues at airports, a measure already authorized by the European Commission.

When questioned by MPs from the Liberal Initiative, Livre, and Chega parties about whether or not the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be suspended during the Christmas season, the minister replied: "I don't have a definitive answer on this issue. The decision doesn't depend solely on me."

Long delays

The minister was heard by the parliamentary committees on constitutional affairs, rights, freedoms and guarantees, and on Economy and Territorial Cohesion, at the request of Chega and PS, regarding the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders of the PSP (Public Security Police) and the long queues at border control in Portuguese airports, the measures adopted and the deadlines foreseen for their resolution.

The new European border control system for non-EU citizens became operational on October 12th in Portugal and other Schengen Area countries, and since then waiting times have worsened, especially at Lisbon airport, with passengers having to wait for several hours.

This situation led the Government to create, at the end of October, an emergency 'task force' to manage this crisis situation.

The minister told the deputies that the Government is monitoring the situation daily at Lisbon airport, where a crisis room has been set up with representatives from the PSP, SSI (Integrated Security System), ANA (Aeroportos de Portugal) and private entities.

However, the minister stressed that “there are unforeseen events,” with the last few days being “a very striking example.”

Biometric data

Maria Lúcia Amaral explained that, since December 10th, the second phase of the EES (Electronic Security System) has been in operation with the collection of biometric data, which consists of obtaining photographs and fingerprints of passengers.

According to the minister, biometric data was being handled manually by police officers at checkpoints, but since Monday, it has been done at electronic kiosks, which has caused disruptions.

“On Monday, along with a visit from the European Commission that disrupted this entire precarious system, the control of this biometric data through kiosks began. That was enough to disrupt everything,” she said, noting that early yesterday morning one of the servers located in the MAI (Ministry of Internal Affairs) general secretariat “malfunctioned for a moment.”

This failure coincided with Tuesday, the day when the highest number of flights from outside the Schengen area arrive between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM.