Frontex presents guidance for EU biometric border system implementation

Key biometric and digital ID technologies, guidelines and best practices, and baseline minimum requirements for the Entry Exit Systems (EES) being implemented at EU external borders from 2020 were shared by experts during a Frontex virtual conference “Biometrics for Borders” last week. The webinar was the second in the series, and focused on the system’s implementation.

The program will reach operation in February (2022); entry and exit information from non-EU nationals will be collected at EU borders, and refusal of entry to any EU member state will also be recorded. New solutions will help to facilitate recording of entry/exit biometric data such as mobile devices and self-service kiosks. However, it is expected that their introduction will present challenges like changes to business processes at European border crossing points.

The conference was designed to support national authorities in these challenges through dialogue and practical activities targeting implementation of the systems. Experts from border guard authorities, EU policy-makers, agencies and research and industry representatives took part. They discussed topics included the development of national processes, identification of operational scenarios, presentation of technologies and infrastructures, guidelines and training for border guards.

The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia and the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union co-organized the conference, with input from partners in the U.S. and Australia.

Article Topics

biometric data  |  biometrics  |  border management  |  data collection  |  data protection  |  Entry/Exit System (EES)  |  EU  |  Frontex