EC awards Greece emergency funding to acquire 90 fingerprinting devices

Earlier this month, the European Commission awarded Greece €1.36M ($1.5M USD) in emergency funding from the from the Internal Security Fund (ISF) to acquire 90 fingerprinting devices to ensure proper identification and registration of migrants at Greek border crossings.

The 90 fingerprint devices and workstations will be connected to the central EURODAC system to enable sharing of information, and will be installed at border crossing points throughout the country, including on the Eastern Aegean islands ensuring proper operation of the hotspots established on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Leros, Kos and Samos.

This emergency assistance is part of the Commission’s overall efforts to support EC member states facing high migratory pressure.

Last October, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said that fingerprinting and registering all refugees arriving in Europe would curb militant threats.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  European Commission  |  fingerprint readers  |  fingerprints  |  immigration  |  refugee registration