Markus Lammert said that the system “is built precisely for cases in which possible indications that the system can be used may arise”.
“All 29 countries in the Schengen area [de livre circulação] have successfully launched their input and output system and such a large system is a complex and complicated task. That is why we have an integrated transition period, an introduction phase period of six months, which allows for a gradual introduction of the new system”, said Markus Lammert, when asked by Lusa about the situation.
On Tuesday, the European Commission described the entry into force of the European Union’s new electronic entry and exit system as “a success”, despite the problems in Portugal, speaking of more than 100 thousand registrations in two days.
However, given the queues at Lisbon airport, the president of the Police Professionals Union Association (ASPP/PSP), told DN that there is no capacity to meet the demands of the new system, which includes the collection of biometric data from passengers coming from outside the Schengen Area. “The airport will not have the capacity to process all passengers under the new regime,” he said.