Portugal–Spain border disputed between the two countries for two hundred years. A microstate existed previously on the border called Couto Misto. Districts on the Portuguese side of the border from North to South: Provinces on the Spanish side of the border from North to South: Portugal and Spain signed the Schengen Agreement in June 1991 which came into effect on 26 March 1995, making Portugal and Spain part of the Schengen area and thus the border then became an Open border. Portugal has since reintroduced border checks several times along the border with Spain, during the UEFA Euro 2004 championships, during the
Border Force also have their identification number displayed. The rank and epaulette styling is in line with many other border agencies and shares close similarities with its Australian counterpart, the Australian Border Force. All vessels of the Border Force bear the ship prefix "HMC"—Her Majesty's Cutter. Between May and October 2015 two of the vessels, HMC "Protector" and HMC "Seeker", were deployed in the Mediterranean conducting search and rescue operations. The Border Force also has a recently chartered vessel named MV "VOS Grace". More Vessels are to be commissioned in 2017. Border Force Border Force is a part of the Home Office,