Civil Liberties Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for stronger entry protections and a shorter retention period for traveler data stored in the new European Union (EU) entry/exit system, which aims to modernize checks on non-EU nationals traveling to EU member countries.
The move aims to speed up and strengthen border checks at the EU’s outer borders for non-EU nationals visiting member countries. MEPs said this vote will replace the old system of stamping passports with an electronic system that stores traveler data and will facilitate faster crossings while making it easier to detect identity fraud and those who overstay their permitted time period.
The new system will store and share a combination of four fingerprints and a facial image of travelers arriving in the Schengen area, which will only be stored for two years time. MEPs said they wanted to ensure the legislation is in line with provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation by allowing individuals the right to access their own data.
“The approval of the smart borders legislative text clears the way to open negotiations with the council and the commission for a swifter and safer (registry) system external border crossings into the Schengen area,” Lead MEP Agustín Díaz de Mera said. “This is an indispensable tool for the security of European citizens”.
The Civil Liberties Committee voted to open negotiations with the European Council 40-4, with one abstention.