Portugal is “one of Europe’s last moderate countries” in immigration

O deputy Secretary of State of the Presidency and Immigration considered that Portugal is one of the last moderate countries in Europe with regard to immigration, because it advocates “humanism of acts” and not “paper humanism”.

“In the European context, Portugal remains a moderate country. I would say that even one of the last moderate countries” in matters of migration policy, said Rui Armindo Freitas, in an interview with the agency Lusa, on the occasion of the three years of the creation of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).

Rui Armindo Freitas said that “humanism without any rule ends up harming everyone”, because “it is a humanism of paper” and not a “humanism of acts”.

An example of this moderation is Lisbon's position against the possibility of creating return centers outside Europe, outsourcing the reception of immigrants, said the ruler, considering that the management of these processes should be carried out in European territory.

Also at international level, Portugal did not request the suspension of Schengen following the migration crisis in Ceuta, unlike other European countries, but that does not mean that the Lisbon authorities agree with the position of the Spanish government.

“We, the Member States of the European Union, have a common area that is divided by everyone and we have to be aware that national policies can seriously impact the common area”, so “any action that can result in a call effect in a Member State will call into question a common border,” he said.

“ I do not question goodwill and good intentions, I think it is the results and that is exactly the country we inherited”, a “country with several problems to solve”, said Rui Armindo Freitas.

“ This government has never been against immigration, it is not our tone and it has never been, because “we have a clear notion that a country like ours must have immigration,” but “in a regulated, enlightened and clear manner,” he said.

Last year, Portugal refused to accept 420 asylum seekers under the European Solidarity Mechanism, claiming migratory pressure and that the official figures were out of date, but Rui Armindo Freitas did not clarify what the position on new processes will now be.

“If we see that Portugal is no longer a country under pressure”, this “will already reflect a lot of what was the work that was started in 2024”, with the regularization of half a million immigrants who were not accounted for.

“Portugal was opposed” and “the solidarity mechanism required receiving people or having a financial contribution”, so the process is still under consideration by Brussels, he said, stressing that decision to accept new asylum seekers “is not taken at the moment”.