The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has hired a law firm for 200 thousand euros to defend itself in court. The issues at stake include summonses to defend the rights, freedoms and guarantees triggered by applicants for residence permits and responses to precautionary measures, as well as other legal actions arising from applications for residence permits for investment activities.

According to the public procurement portal Base, the contract, which was awarded through a public tender that was only open for three days due to its urgent nature, was awarded to the Lisbon law firm Eduardo Serra Jorge e Associados, and there were no other bidders, reports Público.

The task of the law firm Eduardo Serra Jorge – which also works with other State institutions, such as the PSP – is to process four thousand legal cases by the end of the year, at a rate of 50 euros each. Although the signed contract is for a period of five months, it contains a provision that keeps it in force “until the end of all legal cases for which” this firm has been mandated by AIMA.