Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, stated today that circulation flows between Angola and Portugal are “well regulated” and offer guarantees to citizens of both countries.
Asked about complaints from Angolan activists who say they were prevented by TAP from traveling to Cape Verde (with a stopover in Lisbon) because they allegedly did not have an AIMA authorization, Montenegro stated that he was not aware of specific cases, but stressed that the existing rules aim to create “a favorable environment for interaction between Portuguese-speaking countries and Portugal”.
“It is part of a broader strategy of having more regulated immigration and, at the same time, allowing greater dignity in reception and integration”, the prime minister, who this Sunday arrived in Luanda to participate in the 7th African Union – European Union Summit, told journalists.
Montenegro stressed that the Angolan community residing in Portugal “is, in an absolutely massive way, well integrated”, maintaining “perfectly normal relations” with the entire community “without any problems”.
He also highlighted that there are “open channels” in sectors with a shortage of labor to allow for an “even more accelerated” procedural process.
Regarding international transit situations, such as stopovers at airports, Montenegro stated that these rules “are not the object of migration policy, which is the core of the relationship between the State of Portugal and the State of Angola”, but noted that there too “there are specific rules”.
He reinforced, however, that “this flow is regulated, it is well regulated and offers guarantees to Angolan citizens who want to go to Portugal, as well as in the opposite direction”.
A group of Angolan activists claimed that they were prevented, on Friday, from boarding a TAP flight bound for Cape Verde, via Lisbon, allegedly due to the lack of authorization issued by the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA).
Young people questioned this requirement, while TAP responded to Lusa that it only complies with “the instructions of the competent authorities”, without further details.