The European Commission has introduced a proposal to digitalise passports and identity cards under a new initiative called the “EU Digital Travel application,” with an eye to modernizing border control procedures and enhancing security and efficiency for EU and non-EU citizens crossing into the Schengen Area.
The EU Digital Travel application will allow travellers to create digital versions of their passports and ID cards—referred to as digital travel credentials—that mirror the data stored on physical documents. The credentials would include personal information such as a facial images, but exclude fingerprint data.
With nearly 600 million crossings recorded in 2023 alone, the Commission sees an urgent need to streamline the travel experience while maintaining high security standards. And Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, noted the modernization’s alignment with the EU’s commitment to free movement.
“The fact that EU citizens can travel to and within the EU using only their passport or identity card is the foundation of the right to free movement,” he said. “We are now making this right fit for today’s digital world.”
Through the EU Digital Travel application, travellers will be able to submit their digital credentials and travel plans to border authorities before departure. The pre-emptive submission process is designed to reduce wait times at border crossings by enabling advance checks on individuals’ identities.
Margaritis Schinas, the Commission’s Vice-President for “Promoting our European Way of Life”, emphasized the benefits for border management, stating, “By allowing travellers to digitally submit their documents in advance, border guards will be able to verify identities prior to arrival.”
The initiative will also improve border security by reducing the risk of document fraud and enabling authorities to focus on more serious threats such as cross-border crime and migrant smuggling.
The EU Digital Travel application, however, will be distinct from the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which the Commission is also developing as part of its Digital Decade strategy. While the Digital Travel application focuses on travel-specific functionalities, such as pre-border checks and expedited entry, the Digital Identity Wallet is intended to provide a comprehensive digital identification solution for EU citizens across multiple sectors.
The digitalisation of travel credentials is also designed with privacy and data protection in mind. The EU Digital Travel application will require explicit user consent before processing any personal data, and border officials will receive specialized training on data protection protocols. Authorities are aiming to ensure compliance with the EU’s strict data protection standards and reflects the priorities laid out in the EU’s Digital Compass strategy.
Once adopted by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, technical standards for the application will be developed in collaboration with eu-LISA, the EU agency for large-scale IT systems in security and border management. The app is expected to be available by 2030.
Source: European Commission
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October 8, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy and Alex Perala
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