In 2023, MHA ensured its presence in
a total of 56 countries across all continents where agencies, institutions, and
missions of the European Union and the United Nations are headquartered, as
well as in other international organizations, entities, or governmental
structures. This underscores the competencies and capabilities of the members
of its Security Forces, ANEPC and General Secretariat of the Ministry for Home
Affairs.
In its bilateral cooperation efforts,
numerous training actions were conducted by elements from Public Security
Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública - PSP) and from National Republican Guard
(Guarda Nacional Republicana - GNR) within the framework of the Strategic Cooperation Programs with PALOP, contributing to the prestige of national security forces, enhancing international cooperation and fostering the development and capacity-building of counterpart entities. Similarly, the deployment of 98 personnel in support and response missions conducted within the framework of the Civil Protection Mechanism for disaster situations coordinated by ANEPC in Chile, Canada and Turkey, received international recognition.
MHA in the European Union
At the European Union level, MHA
continued to strengthen its presence with a significant increase in national
engagement compared to 2022 (288 personnel), totaling 474 personnel (a
reinforcement of approximately 40% compared to the previous year), due to the
commitment of ANEPC personnel in Joint Operations Forces in Chile, Canada, and
Turkey.
In this domain and like in 2022, GNR
remained the main participant, contributing almost 51% of national personnel.
Along with Immigration and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e
Fronteiras – SEF), they deployed the highest number of female personnel (11
personnel each).
EUROPOL was the european agency where
were hosted the highest number of national personnel (40), while the European
External Action Service (9) and the European Commission (7) were the preferred
European institutions for national personnel. Among civilian CSDP (Common
Security and Defense Policy) missions, notable mentions include the European
Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (9 personnel), the European Union Training
Mission in Mozambique (8), and the European Union Capacity Building Mission in
Somalia (5). It is important to highlight MHA presence in the European Union
Advisory Mission in Ukraine (4 personnel) and in European Union Police Mission
for the Palestinian Territories (1), representing a national reinforcement
aligned with the EU's strategy to support Ukraine and the attention given to
the Israel-Hamas conflict, respectively.
In terms of European projects, SEF
participated in a significant European initiative by deploying an Inspector to
Cape Verde, where he served as a Project Coordinator for GESTDOC in Praia.
Finally, within the European Union
(excluding FRONTEX), MHA Security Forces were deployed in 27 countries (3 more
than in 2022), particularly in the Americas, with Canada and Chile as the main
destinations, and in Europe, mainly in Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Participation of MHA in FRONTEX
The deployment of MAI personnel in
FRONTEX fell slightly, by around 5% compared to the previous year, as a result
of the return of dozens of personnel who had been on missions that ended at the
end of the year and the approval of the restructuring of Portuguese border
control system, reformulating the regime for the forces and services that carry
out internal security activities.
Portuguese GNR constituted the
Security Force with the highest number of personnel engaged (117), being the
largest contributor of female personnel (5).
Within the scope of FRONTEX, the year
was marked by participation in significant missions and operations, with the
deployment of military and police personnel in 12 FRONTEX missions.
MHA at the United Nations
At the United Nations, MHA continued
to contribute to regional and global security and stability by deploying 53
personnel (8 more than in 2022) in 11 countries. Portuguese PSP assumed the
primary responsibility for this engagement, deploying 50 personnel, including
11 females.
In UN missions, national presence was
predominantly in MINUSCA (Central African Republic) and UNMISS (South Sudan),
with 15 personnel each. The African continent remained the primary destination
for MHA personnel deployed under the United Nations.
Bilateral Relations
In 2023, within the framework of
Bilateral Relations and through the Technical-Police Cooperation and Civil
Protection Program, MHA deployed 29 personnel (17 from PSP and 12 from GNR) in
all PALOP and East-Timor, where training activities focused on various topics
were conducted.
It is also important to highlight
cooperation actions within the Commissariats in Spain and France, involving the
participation of 7 PSP personnel, support provided for the XIV Conference of
Heads of State and Government of Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade
dos Países de Língua Portuguesa – CPLP), in São Tomé and Príncipe), and Advisory
roles with the governments of East-Timor and Macau.
Liaison Officers and Immigration Liaison Officers
Finally,
the work carried out by Liaison Officers and Immigration Liaison Officers was
ensured, despite rotations and the cessation of functions of the latter (in
accordance with Law No. 73/2021, of November 12, which approved the
restructuring of the Portuguese border control system, reformulating the regime
of forces and services responsible for internal security activities), allowing
regular monitoring of MHA bilateral relations with various strategic partners (link: