In response to an open letter from more than a hundred academic researchers and associations requesting access to the OM's technical collection, AIMA informs on its website that “the reestablishment of full access to the OM's scientific and technical-scientific publications is underway, with the new website dedicated exclusively to the work developed by the Observatory in the final stages of development”.

Until the website is made available online, “OM ensures in-person consultation at the documentation center that operates on its premises in Lisbon and the sending of materials in PDF format that may be requested”.

Furthermore, “OM has responded to all requests sent to it to date and will continue to do so, in order to fulfil one of its main functions: to ensure the availability of updated and accurate information on migration and migrants in Portugal,” says AIMA, emphasizing that requests can be sent to the organization’s website.

In the open letter, the signatories consider that the elimination of these studies represents “a significant setback, contradicting the very essence of scientific research” in the current times when the trend is towards open access, as is the policy of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) itself.

In the letter addressed to the Minister of the Presidency, the Deputy Secretary of State for the Presidency and Immigration, the president of the OM and the scientific coordinator, the signatories express their “deep concern regarding the removal of the collection of studies published online” by the organization.

“The academic community, particularly researchers in the field of migration studies, deeply regrets the loss of access to this digital collection, because science progresses by building on existing knowledge.”