“I have not had any reports of any problems in our systems that would have led to any need for intervention on our part,” Pedro Portugal Gaspar told Lusa.

“We are talking about the new passport system, which is a matter in which AIMA participates in an ancillary manner, in the sense that it is essentially a passport control system and, therefore, the system of police forces that actually ensure border control,” explained Pedro Portugal Gaspar.

However, he admitted that “there is an adjustment here of the rules of adaptation to the new challenge that is agreed between the various community countries”, added the leader.

Citizens from outside the Schengen area have faced hours-long queues to pass through the immigration control zone, something that has led to protests from those arriving, whether immigrants or tourists.

However, Pedro Portugal Gaspar admits that the system is still “in a period of tolerance”, before “packing and recovering” to a “cruising speed”.

In a joint statement from several border management entities, including AIMA, authorities said Monday that the new system will allow for "more rigorous and efficient management of the entry and exit" of citizens into the Schengen area.

The Internal Security System (SSI), through the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit, a structure created within the SSI after the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service, says that Portugal is entering "a new era in border management" with the implementation of new control systems.

According to the SSI, these systems are being installed as part of the European border management digital transformation plan, which will bring "more innovation, security and trust".

The SSI states that these new systems are being installed from today at various air and sea border points with the involvement of the GNR, PSP, the entities managing airport and port infrastructures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AIMA and the National Internal Security Network (RNSI).

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