On Wednesday 25 October, MEPs will give their opinion on the entry/exit system or the so-called “smart borders” system, which is supposed to help register all travellers from third countries crossing the EU’s external borders.
The system aims to replace the passport stamp with an electronic system that stores data on travellers, in an effort to facilitate swift border passage, whilst making the detection of people exceeding the period of their visa validity easier or detection of those possessing bogus papers or identities.
On 12 July, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee (LIBE) adopted the compromise reached at the end of June with the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 11737). The new system aims to register information (name, digital fingerprints, facial imaging and date and place) on the entry, exit and refused entry for third country nationals, as well as travellers requiring a visa and those exempted from visa requirements. They will be registered at external Schengen area borders, as well as nationals from Bulgaria and Romania, who are still outside the Schengen area. MEPs will hold a debate on this subject on Wednesday morning.
According to a source from the civil liberties committee, a time period had been envisaged by certain groups for requesting a postponement on this vote due to possible implications from the ruling made on 26 July by the European Court of Justice on the PNR draft agreement between the EU and Canada, but this postponement was avoided.
Alongside this on Wednesday, MEPs will have to adopt an amendment on the Schengen Code integrating this new system. (Solenn Paulic)