Privacy Policy
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), entity responsible for the website, complies with the requirements concerning the privacy and protection of data submitted by its users, as per Law no. 58/2019, which ensures the implementation in the national legal order of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
This commitment is assumed in the MFA’s Privacy Policy and reinforced in the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Personal Data, which governs the activity of all workers, employees and managers of the MFA with regard to the principles of privacy and professional secrecy.
Use of cookies
This website uses cookies and other local data storage mechanisms (local session or persistent storage) to provide a better and more personalized user experience to its visitors.
What are cookies?
Cookies (also known as "connection witnesses") consist of small pieces of data that a website stores in the browser and which are sent to the website with each request.
Depending on their origin, cookies can be:
- Origin cookies - these are cookies stored by the visited website and are only sent to it.
- Third party cookies - websites may use external services that may also tell the browser to store their own cookies.
Depending on their lifetime, cookies can also be:
- Persistent cookies - stored in your device and not automatically deleted when you close your browser, and have a variable validity depending on the cookie.
- Session cookies - these are deleted when you close your browser.
What are the other local storage mechanisms?
Persistent local storage (long term) and session local storage (persists until you close your browser) are mechanisms that allow the website to store small data in the browser for the website's use without this data being automatically sent to the server on each request.
Why do we use cookies and other storage mechanisms?
The purpose is to enable the website to remember your preferences (user session, language, etc.) for a certain period. This way you do not have to re-enter them while browsing the site during your visit.
They can also be used to collect statistical data about your browsing experience on our websites.
What types of cookies and other local storage mechanisms do we use?
This website mainly uses "origin cookies". However, for statistics and some embedded content (videos, maps, etc.), it uses systems from external organizations that may store cookies and other local data storage mechanisms.
To manage your usage preferences, they are grouped into three categories:
- Necessary – These are essential for the website to function properly. This category includes only what is necessary to ensure basic functionality and security features of the site.
- Statistical - These are limited to evaluating how you interact with our website as an anonymous user (the data collected does not identify you). They are used to help us understand how we can improve the services we provide to our users. However, you may refuse cookies and other local storage mechanisms in this category.
- Third-Party Content - A small number of pages on the website may contain embedded video playback systems, maps, and other third-party content (YouTube videos, Vimeo videos, Google Maps, and others). Since this content is from third parties, even if some of them do not place any cookies or other local storage mechanisms, as is the case with several of these systems, it is not possible to guarantee that this situation will not change in the future. You can therefore refuse cookies and other local storage mechanisms of this category.
How can you manage your preferences?
When you first access this website, you are asked to indicate your preferences for the use of cookies and other local storage mechanisms. You can accept all three categories described or you can set your preferences differently.
In preference management you are given more specific information about these mechanisms that can be stored in your browser. In the cases of the categories "Statistics" and "Third Party Content" you will be asked for your express consent for their use.
Your usage preferences will be valid for 180 days since your last visit, but you can change your consent at any time by accessing the settings.
If the MFA makes changes to this website that include changing the set of cookies and other local storage mechanisms used, you will be asked again to set your usage preferences.
Data Protection
Although it is possible to browse this website without providing any personal information, there are cases in which it is essential that you provide us with certain personal data in order for us to be able to provide the services you request.
The pages or forms that require this type of data process them in full compliance with the aforementioned regulation and provide information on how the personal data is used in their respective "Privacy Statements".
In each of these statements you will find information on what personal data is processed, for what purposes, who will have access to this data and for how long it will be stored. You will also be told how you can access, rectify, delete or transport your personal data.
In cases where the legal grounds for processing your data require your consent, this will be expressly requested.
You may at any time object to the processing of your personal data or withdraw your consent to such processing.
The MFA uses a set of security technologies and procedures suitable for protecting your personal data from unauthorised access or disclosure, including:
- Physical security measures, such as access control of employees, collaborators and visitors to the Ministry’s premises and, on the Data Centre premises, very strict mechanisms for fighting intrusion, extinguishing fires, 24x7 monitoring of equipment and accommodation of equipment in dedicated back-offices;
- Logical security measures, in the component of access to systems and workstations through mechanisms for identity, authentication and privilege management; in the network component, the use of firewalls and intrusion detection systems, segregating networks and application environments, as well as encryption of information through secure communication channels.
For additional information, or any clarification regarding the MFA’s Privacy Policy you may contact the Data Protection Officer (Encarregado de Proteção de Dados in Portuguese) via the following email address: epd@mne.pt
