Portugal available to continue perfecting the European Border and Coast Guard Agency

The Minister of Home Affairs, José Luís Carneiro, noted the effort by GNR officers in the missions of the EU border protection agency, adding that Portugal is available to keep actively participating in perfecting Frontex.

José Luís Carneiro visited the 20 GNR officers who have been in Sant´Antioco, on the Island of Sardinia since March to take part in the Frontex mission Themis, whose main tasks are to control the migration flows and stop transborder crime. 

"I wish to underline the importance of the efforts by GNR officers to boost the Frontex capabilities", said the Minister who went onboard the "Bojador" coast patrol boat.

The Minister noted GNR’s "established competence" in "supervising and taking part in missions for integrated border control", which is "today acknowledged as one of the security forces that offers a relevant contribution not just to fighting crime relating to human trafficking, as well as other types of organised crime" that require "law enforcement cooperation in Europe".

"Over the last 15 years, GNR has had one thousand officers seconded to Frontex missions and is available to keep actively participating in perfecting this border guard at a European level", he highlighted.

Another of the GNR’s tasks in this mission is "humanitarian treatment and respect for human rights for those who seek better conditions in Europe", he said, adding that Portugal  is "at the same time committed to meeting the commitments to the European asylum and migration agency, which handles taking in the immigrants who come to Europe".

"Over the last 15 years, Portugal has taken part in strengthening and updating integrated border management, which includes both the law enforcement and humanitarian scales", he further said.