Smart Borders: Enhancing Mobility & Security

The EU is moving towards more modern and efficient border management by using state-of-the-art technology. Today, the Commission proposed a 'smart border package' to speed-up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures for foreigners travelling to the EU.

The package consists of:

• A Registered Traveller Programme (RTP) to allow certain groups of frequent travellers from third countries to enter the EU using simplified border checks.
• An Entry/Exit System (EES) to record the time and place of entry and exit of third country nationals travelling to the EU.

As a whole non-EU residents contributed €271 billion to economy when travelling to the EU in 2011. Business travellers, workers on short term contracts, researchers and students, third country nationals with close family ties to EU citizens or living in regions bordering the EU are all likely to cross the borders several times a year. Making it as easy as possible for them to come to the EU would ensure that Europe remains an attractive destination and help boosting economic activity and job creation.

Background

Today's proposals follow a 2011 Communication (IP/11/1234), in which a discussion was launched between EU institutions and authorities about the implementation of new systems, in light of their added value, their technological and data protection implications, and their costs.

The proposals are part of the initiative to strengthen the overall governance of the Schengen area, as announced in the Communication on Migration adopted on 4 May 2011 (IP/11/532 and MEMO/11/273).

Next steps

Negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council on the RTP and the EES legislative proposals will now start. After adoption of the legal texts by the co-legislators, the establishment of the systems will take place with a view to start operations in 2017 or 2018.

Source: DG Home Affairs News

Further Information

• Heinrich Böll Foundation, The EU's New Border Surveillance Initiatives Assessing the Costs and Fundamental Rights Implications of EUROSUR and the "Smart Borders" Proposals -Borderline, June 2012
• EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, Press Conference ‘EU 'Smart Borders' - enhancing mobility and security‘, 28 March 2012
• The Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, EU border control plans - Big brother technologies not a smart plan for Europe’s borders, 28 February 2013.
• Deutsche Welle, EU 'Smart Borders' plan raises 'Big Brother' flags , 1 March 2013