Spain to Provide Support to Portugal in Implementing Border Controls for World Youth Day

Spain will assist Portugal with border control during World Youth Days, scheduled to take place in Portugal between August 1 and 6, 2023.

This is in recognition of the large increase in traffic that is expected during this event.

Last week, Portugal's government decided to reinstate internal border checks with Spain to increase security during the festival.

According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (Mip), over 1.5 million pilgrims will arrive in the Portuguese capital within the next few days. This could cause a significant surge in traffic along the roads connecting the French-Portuguese border, and the roads leading to Lisbon and the Sanctuary of Fatima.

SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that Spain has created a Specific Mobility Plan to ensure safety on the highways and traffic control for travelers who wish to take part in the festival on Spanish territory by private or group transport.

The Traffic Group of the Civil Guard, as part of the plan, will intensify efforts to monitor and control traffic along the primary and secondary routes of these vehicles.

"Specific controls will be established to verify that journeys, especially long-distance ones, are made safely, aimed at guaranteeing the vehicle's general condition (tyres, load arrangement, etc.) and informing about the risks of driving without adequate rest," mentioned the statement from the Ministry.

To ensure safe travel, especially for long-distance journeys, the authorities will implement controls that verify that safety measures are taken during the trip.

ATGC agents who are transport specialists will also carry out targeted inspections of collective passenger transport on long-distance trips. The inspections will be focused on evaluating drivers' compliance with driving regulations, rest time regulations, and the safety of vehicles.

Traffic Management Centers are using variable message boards to update drivers in real-time on traffic incidents, conditions, and transit routes during World Youth Days.

As part of the preparations for the event, and in collaboration with Portuguese authorities the DGT (Directorate General of Traffic), launched "Operation Paso Portugal", on July 1, 2015. The operation is designed to cover the 250,000 vehicles traveling through Spanish territory during the summer holidays from France to Portugal.

The Ministry has explained that the plan will be mainly focused on two phases in the total duration. The first phase covered the last days in July while the second will take place from August 6 to 7

Portugal's border authorities have checked 503,633 individuals since the reintroduction of internal border checks in Portugal. This was done until Thursday, 27th July. During this time, 83 people were denied entry to Portugal.

Source: schengenvisainfo.com