According to a note on the Presidency's website, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa promulgated the Government diploma that “under the terms and for the purposes of the provisions of article 35 and paragraph 5 of article 53 of Law no.º 63/2007, of November 6, in its current wording, adapts the organic structure of the Republican National Guard to the new responsibilities transferred within the scope of the restructuring process of the Portuguese border control system”.

The Government approved on Thursday, in the Council of Minister, changes to the organic structure of the Republican National Guard due to the new border control responsibilities inherited from the extinct Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).

In a statement, the Council of Ministers stated that “the regulatory decree adapting the organic structure of the GNR to the new responsibilities transferred within the scope of the restructuring process of the Portuguese border control system” had been approved.

According to the Government, the GNR will now have a new structure, the Borders and Coastal Control Directorate, which will be integrated into the GNR Operational Command.

The new Directorate of Borders and Coastal Control, which ensures command of operational activity at national level, is responsible for monitoring, inspecting and controlling maritime and land borders, including cruise terminals, powers that belonged previously to SEF.

This new direction also integrates the powers of the Coastal Control Unit, responsible for fulfilling the GNR mission with surveillance, patrolling and land or sea interception powers across the entire coast and territorial sea.

SEF came to an end on October 29th and the powers were transferred to the PSP, GNR and PJ, Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA), Institute of Registration and Notaries (IRN) and Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit, which operates under the authority of the secretary general of the Internal Security System.