Croatian government introduces biometrics bill to support EES interoperability

The government of Croatia has put forward legislation to provide the framework for new biometrics collection processes to ensure border security and interoperability with other Schengen-area systems, Total Croatia News reports.

“Currently the most topical EU initiative in the field of security is the strengthening of data exchange by linking information systems and databases containing biometric data,” Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović says.

Božinović referred to the adoption of new regulations for the Schengen area establishing standards for biometric identity records-sharing between the Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS), and European Asylum Dactyloscopy Databse (EURODAC), as part of the new Entry/Exit System (EES), as well as the establishment of the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS TCN) and the pre-travel authorisation system for visa exempt travellers (ETIAS).

“Croatia has decided that the issue of interoperability will be one of the priorities of its EU presidency in 2020 and we among leading member-countries in terms of the progress made so far in that area,” he said. He noted that the system would prevent fraud and the use of multiple identities, and allow more accurate identification of missing persons.

The European Commission has given Croatia €13.2 million to invest in upgrades and new technology to meet the new interoperability requirements.

Article Topics

biometric data  |  biometric database  |  biometrics  |  border security  |  data sharing  |  Entry/Exit System (EES)  |  ETIAS  |  EU  |  European Commission  |  interoperability  |  legislation  |  Schengen Information System (SIS)