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 guard Defence Forces when required by defence readiness. The Border Guard has police and investigative powers in immigration matters and can independently investigate immigration violations. The Border Guard has search and rescue (SAR) duties, both maritime and inland. The Guard operates SAR helicopters that are often used in inland SAR, in assistance of a local fire and rescue department or other authorities. The Border Guard shares border control duties with Finnish Customs, which inspects arriving goods, and the Finnish Police, which enforces immigration decisions such as removal. The French "Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects", Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect