Speaking to the Lusa agency, Gomes Cravinho said that the Maritime Police, "over the past few years, did an extraordinary job in Greece, since it saved the lives of hundreds of people", and removed "some seven thousand people" from the sea.

"This work has been widely recognized by the Greek authorities and by the other countries with which we work in the FRONTEX operation, we have been asked to stay another year," he said.

The Government, he concluded, made an evaluation and hence the "decision to renew until 31 March 2021 the stay of the Maritime Police in Greece on the island of Lesbos", where "many, many thousands of refugees, Syrians, Afghans and other countries arrive", who want to reach Europe.

Just a week ago, on 15 January, the Portuguese Maritime Police detected a vessel with 50 migrants on board, sailing near the bay of Ormos Mourtias, on the island of Samos, in Greece.

According to a statement from the National Maritime Authority, 20 children, 14 women and 16 men were on board the boat.

The Portuguese Maritime Policy is part of the Poseidon operation, under the responsibility of the European agency FRONTEX, and provides support to the Greek authorities in the Mediterranean Sea.