Portugal has already received 672 temporary protection requests from Ukrainian citizens

The Portuguese Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Patrícia Gaspar, took part in the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (Directive 2001/55) for the first time in EU history, and unanimously, which will allow citizens fleeing from the military conflict triggered by Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine to be taken in.

"It was a very important day for Portugal, for the EU and for Ukraine. This directive had never been activated and it is proof of the EU’s solidarity and support to Ukraine", said Patrícia Gaspar at the end of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

This directive will allow member states to respond in a harmonised way to hosting Ukrainian citizens, their families and people of other nationalities who are fleeing from the military conflict, as this operation "implies important coordination" between all member states and the need "to permanently monitor the arrival" of citizens fleeing from Ukraine, claimed the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

Patrícia Gaspar also revealed that Portugal had received 530 requests for temporary protection by 1 pm today, under the initiatives approved and enforced by the Portuguese State via Council of Ministers Resolution 29-A/2022 of 1 March – raising to 672 the total number of requests, since the 142 had already been received prior to the resolution’s approval.

The ministerial meeting was also set by the creation of the Schengen Council, a structure to ensure a clearer political governance of the Schengen area.

A global approach was achieved under this field, for the purpose of negotiating with the European Parliament, regarding the proposal to revise the mechanism of assessing and monitoring the enforcement of the Schengen acquis.

Furthermore, the ministers took a status report on the negotiations for the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Council conclusions were adopted on civil protection regarding climate change, as well as the Council Declaration on Interpol red notices.

The first meeting of the Latin American Committee on Internal Security was held alongside the meeting, which included a highly significant number of leaders of Latin American countries. There was a fruitful discussion on strengthening cooperation to counter organised crime, particularly drug trafficking, under which a Joint Statement was signed.