Terrorism: Portugal suspends Schengen for Euro 2004

LISBON – Portugal suspends the Schengen agreements to prevent terrorist attacks. The Lisbon government announces that border controls will be reintroduced before the European football championships in May. In addition to Euro 2004, the Rock festival in Rio scheduled at the end of May in Lisbon is also pushing the government to adopt the provision.

Next summer for the Europeans in Portugal the arrival of about 500 thousand people is expected, to which will be added 1.4 million tourists. At the end of May, in Lisbon, thousands of music lovers are expected to attend the festival, based on the model of the three previous editions organized in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

Meanwhile, on the security front, the Portuguese Defense Minister, Paulo Portas, did not exclude the use of the military alongside the police to make Euro 2004 “a safe event”.

March 17, 2004